Rain Delays ALCS Game 4; Guardians and Rays Resume Series Saturday

Key points

• Game 4 was postponed due to rain at Progressive Field and will resume Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
• The Guardians lead the series 2-1 after winning Game 3 3-2 on Thursday.
• Game 5 is scheduled for Sunday, with a potential Game 6 in St. Petersburg on Monday.
• Cleveland planned to open with Shawn Armstrong, while Tampa Bay was set to use Nick Martinez.
• The schedule change may eliminate rest days, potentially leading to four consecutive games.

Background

The 2026 ALCS features the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays, with the Rays holding a 98-win regular season record compared to Cleveland’s 85. The series has been affected by weather, including a Game 3 start moved to 1 p.m. ET due to conditions. The Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, are waiting for the ALCS winner to begin the World Series on Oct. 23.

Why it matters

The postponement compresses the ALCS schedule, potentially eliminating rest days and affecting pitcher availability. It also impacts the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a week off before the World Series, as a shorter ALCS could alter their preparation timeline.

What to watch

The series resumes Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, with Game 5 on Sunday. If necessary, Game 6 will be played in St. Petersburg on Monday, and a potential Game 7 could occur on Tuesday.