yahoo
CLEVELAND — The 2026 American League Championship Series has a new wild card: the weather. With the Guardians holding a 2-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays after a Game 3 victory, heavy rain in the Cleveland area forced Major League Baseball to postpone Game 4, which was originally set for Friday, Oct. 16, at Progressive Field. The decision came at 9 p.m. ET, leaving fans who had already entered the stadium waiting for three hours in the rain.
Game 4 will now be played on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8:08 p.m. ET, and Game 5 is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18. The postponement could have a real impact on how both clubs manage their pitching staffs for the remainder of the series.
Game 4 Starters Remain the Same
Despite the extra day off, both teams are sticking with their original starters for Game 4. The Guardians will still use Shawn Armstrong as an opener, and the Rays will counter with Nick Martinez.
Schedule Shift Creates New Possibilities
The rainout pushes Games 4 and 5 back by a day, meaning the Guardians and Rays could potentially play ALCS games on four consecutive days. For Tampa Bay, the pitching plan might remain largely unchanged: Martinez in Game 4, Drew Rasmussen in Game 5, and Freddy Peralta in Game 6. That trio is formidable, though the Rays would still need to figure out a potential Game 7.
Cleveland, however, gains more flexibility for Games 4, 5, and 6. After Armstrong opens Game 4, the Guardians could turn to Joey Cantillo, Foster Griffin, or other options. The extra off day also allows them to consider starting Parker Messick in Game 5 instead of waiting until Game 6, as originally planned. If the Guardians hold a 3-1 series lead entering Game 5, they might opt for a bullpen game with Griffin, Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, or Tanner Bibee, giving Messick an extra day of rest given his heavy workload this season and postseason. If the series is tied 2-2, they may be more inclined to start Messick in Game 5 and piece together Game 6. Gavin Williams remains in line for a potential Game 7, unaffected by the rainout.
Impact on Cade Smith
The bigger concern for Cleveland is how the possibility of four straight games affects the availability of Cade Smith, one of the most dominant relievers in baseball this postseason. Smith has been automatic, and the Guardians have used him early and often. That usage has been effective but carries risks, and the team would have valued the off day between Games 5 and 6. Now, Smith will be well-rested for Game 4, but the benefit of that off day is gone for the rest of the series. If he is needed extensively, the Guardians could find themselves without their All-Star closer available out of the bullpen for the first time this October. As a result, the weather remains a major storyline the rest of the way.
Originally reported by yahoo.