Petey Halpin being the unlikely hero in Game 3 of the ALCS for the Guardians is proof that anybody can be the hero in Game 4.
Halpin's two-run rocket through a strong wind into the Progressive Field right-field seats in the bottom of the fifth inning Oct. 15 propelled the Guardians to a 3-2 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Halpin started in center field because Angel Martinez has been miserable in the postseason. Martinez is batting .056 with one hit in 18 at-bats. Martinez led the Guardians with 18 home runs in the regular season. Halpin hit four homers — two of them in one game — in the regular season.
The team that breaks a 1-1 tie by winning Game 3 has gone on to take a seven-game series 69.3 percent of the time (71 of 102). The Guardians have the added benefit of being the host team for Games 4 (Oct. 16) and 5 (Oct. 17). The Rays were much better at Tropicana Field in Tampa (55-26) than they were on the road (43-38).
Game 3, originally scheduled for a 6:10 start, was moved to 1 p.m. because of foul weather in the forecast. The forecast for Oct. 16 calls for more rain, leading to speculation that Game 4 could be postponed until Oct. 17. Oct. 18 was originally scheduled as a travel day, but Game 5 would be played on that date if Game 4 is postponed. Game 4 has a 6:10 scheduled start. The first pitch would be at 8:10 p.m. if the Brewers eliminate the Dodgers in a late-night game Oct. 15.
Neither manager — Kevin Cash of the Rays nor Stephen Vogt of the Guardians — has named a starter for Game 4.
"With the game just ending, we haven't had time to work through what we're going to do," Vogt said in his postgame news conference.
A postponement of Game 4 until Oct. 17 would give Vogt the opportunity to use Game 1 starter Foster Griffin on the normal four days rest. Griffin allowed two earned runs in four innings Oct. 12 in a game the Guardians won, 7-3.
Vogt could give the start to Tanner Bibee, whose only postseason appearance this fall was when he pitched to three batters and got one out in Game 4 of the ALDS with the White Sox. He walked two batters. Both scored. Bibee made 33 starts in the regular season.
Vogt could also go with Daniel Espino or Shawn Armstrong as an opener and then call on Joey Cantillo.
Whoever starts Game 4 and whenever it is played, players in the Guardians clubhouse are happy they are getting the chance to close out the Rays with the support of their fans at Progressive Field. Game 3 was not a sellout, but the crowd of 30,101 made their voices known.
"Home-field advantage is really important," Guardians leadoff hitter Steven Kwan said. "Obviously, if we could close those games out it would be huge, but winning any type of game is important, especially getting this first one.
"A one o'clock game is a little different atmosphere. It was definitely huge to pick this one up."
The Guardians got this far with everybody pulling the rope in the same direction. Rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana expects that winning formula to continue.
"We feel really strongly about our pitching staff," Bazzana said. "The team that has been built by this organization is developed in good character. Players know their role. They're trusted to step up when it matters.
"I think that's a starting point, but also what we have in the clubhouse is really nice. It allows you to go out and play at your best because we trust in each other."
Brayan Rocchio, hitting .120 in the playoffs, has had a quiet postseason. He is one swing of the bat from a dramatic moment. He has gone five straight games without an RBI.
Bazzana is hitting .148 through eight playoff games. He is looking for his second RBI.
Petey Halpin showed that Jose Ramirez doesn't have to be the hero every game.
