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Guardians-Rays game postponed after rain delay of nearly an hour. Live updates
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- Guardians-Rays game postponed after rain delay of nearly an hour. Live updates
CLEVELAND — The Guardians were set to play a rainy Game 4 of the American League Championship Series with a chance to take a commanding lead while the Tampa Bay Rays are looking to even things up at Progressive Field, but just after 9 p.m. Friday, Oct, 16, Major League Baseball postponed ALCS Game 4 because of rain .
The Guardians took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with a Game 3 win powered by Petey Halpin's home run and another playoff save by closer Cade Smith . It set the stage for a crucial Game 4, which is now set to begin at 8:08 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Progressive Field. Game 5 is slated for 5:08 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.
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MLB playoff news: Guardians vs. Rays ALCS Games 4 and 5 rescheduled after Friday postponement
ALCS Game 4 had a scheduled first-pitch time of 8:08 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, but the game was postponed.
Below is some more ALCS information.
ALCS Game 4 to feature Shawn Armstrong vs Nick Martinez ALCS pitching matchup even after rainout
With Game 4 being moved to Saturday, Oct. 17, the Guardians and Rays are both sticking with their scheduled pitching plans, according to both managers.
The Guardians will still start Shawn Armstrong as an opener, with unclear plans after that. The Rays will start Nick Martinez.
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MLB news: ALCS rainout might alter Guardians pitching plans with Cade Smith, Foster Griffin
Guardians-Rays ALCS Game 4 postponed due to rain
Game 4 between the Guardians and Rays will not be played Friday night, Oct. 16.
Game 4 is now set for 8:08 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.
Game 5 is now slated for 5:08 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.
MLB made the announcements shortly after 9 p.m. Oct. 16.
MLB playoffs column: Guardians fans left soggy, salty. MLB could have prevented it | Opinion
When will the Guardians game start?
As of 9 p.m., no time for first pitch had been announced. It was also still raining a bit at Progressive Field.
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Grounds crew removes tarp from infield at Progressive Field and then puts it back
At 7:46 p.m., the grounds crew removed a massive tarp from the infield. Fans awaiting the start of Game 4 cheered.
The removal of the tarp created a huge puddle in the outfield, stretching from shallow center field and across shallow right field. Then the grounds crew left the tarp in the outfield and used leaf blowers, brooms and squeegees to remove water from the tarp.
Meanwhile, other members of the grounds crew worked on clearing water from the warning track.
By 7:57 p.m., the grounds crew placed the tarp back on the infield.
Guardians-Rays ALCS Game 4 will start in a delay
At 7:19 p.m., MLB has announced that Game 4 of the ALCS will not start on time. No further updates have been provided.
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Are the Guardians and Rays in a rain delay before Game 4 of ALCS?
Somehow, as of 6:50 p.m., Major League Baseball has not made any announcement on tonight's game. It's really leaving fans in a tough spot while driving rain is falling at Progressive Field. Nobody is on the field, which is completely water logged.
It seems very unlikely they play at 8 p.m., as the warning track is basically now a lake. Even if they try to play, it's going to take a long time to get the field ready with the amount of rain that has already fallen. They might wait until 10 p.m. or even later to try to get the game in, but to not have announced something is pretty unbelievable from MLB.
The likely scenario here is that either the game is delayed by a few hours (at least), or it's moved to Sunday. At this point, if MLB is this intent on waiting, it seems as though they are gearing up to try to play, even if first pitch isn't until 11 p.m. or even later. Nothing has been announced.
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Guardians and Rays have meeting with MLB about weather for Game 4
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and Rays manager Kevin Cash said they have a phone call scheduled with MLB about whether inclement weather in Cleveland will affect the schedule for Game 4. Vogt and Cash said the call had been set for 6 p.m. Oct. 16.
What did Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash say about phone call with MLB about Game 4 ALCS weather conditions in Cleveland?
Here is what Rays manager Kevin Cash said about the 6 p.m. phone call with MLB: "Forecasters are putting their heads through it trying to decide what's best for both the Guardians and the Rays and certainly the Cleveland fans and everything. So, [I don't know] more than that other than I'm looking forward to getting on the call at 6."
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Guardians-Rays ALCS schedule, scores
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Here's the 2026 ALCS schedule :
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Game 4: Rays at Guardians, Friday, Oct. 16, 8:08 p.m.
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Game 5: Rays at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 17, 5:08 p.m.
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Game 6 (if necessary): Guardians at Rays, Monday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.
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Game 7 (if necessary): Guardians at Rays, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m.
Shawn Armstrong vs. Rays
Right-handed relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong is scheduled to serve as an opener for the Guardians in Game 4. He has been terrific in the playoffs, striking out five and giving up only one hit in 5 ⅓ innings.
Nick Martinez vs. Guardians
Right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez is set to start Game 4 for the Rays. Martinez went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in the 2026 regular season. In 13 innings against the Guardians this season, Martinez allowed seven hits and no runs in two starts.
Guardians playoffs: Petey Halpin lifts Guardians with home run, bat flip in ALCS Game 3
Oct 13, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) makes a throw to first base against Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) during the fourth inning in game two of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Guardians lineup vs Rays in Game 4 of ALCS
This is the lineup the Guardians announced before the postponement:
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Steven Kwan, LF
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Jose Ramírez, 3B
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Chase DeLauter, RF
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Jo Adell, DH
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Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
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Travis Bazzana, 2B
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Patrick Bailey, C
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Petey Halpin, CF
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Brayan Rocchio, SS
Rays lineup vs Guardians in Game 4 of ALCS
This is the lineup the Rays announced before the postponement:
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Yandy Díaz, DH
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Jonathan Aranda, 1B
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Chandler Simpson, LF
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Junior Caminero, 3B
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Liam Hicks, C
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Victor Mesa Jr., RF
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Jonny DeLuca, CF
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Richie Palacios, 2B
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Taylor Walls, SS
Oct 12, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts with Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (31) against the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning in game one of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Cleveland Guardians ALCS roster
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Here is the Guardians' ALCS roster:
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Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges
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Infielders (5): Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Nathaniel Lowe, José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio
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Outfielders (6): Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter, David Fry, Petey Halpin, Steven Kwan and Angel Martínez
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Pitchers (13): Shawn Armstrong, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Daniel Espino, Matt Festa, Hunter Gaddis, Foster Griffin, Tim Herrin, Parker Messick, Erik Sabrowski, Cade Smith, Gavin Williams and Slade Cecconi
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians ALCS predictions
Here are our predictions for Game 4 . Here are our predictions for the ALCS .
Oct 13, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi (44) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in game two of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
When do the Cleveland Guardians play today?
First pitch for Game 4 is officially scheduled for 8:08 p.m.
MLB playoffs: Cade Smith rescues Guardians, helps them regain ALCS lead vs. Rays | Opinion
Where to watch Guardians vs. Rays in Game 4 of the ALCS tonight
ALCS Game 4 between the Guardians and Rays can be viewed on TBS, HBO Max, TruTV and Univision.
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How to listen to the Guardians game tonight on radio
Game 4 of the ALCS can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM), WTAM (1100-AM) and WARF (1350-AM, Spanish broadcast).
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians-Rays game postponed after rain delay of nearly an hour. Live updates
