ALCS Game 4 rained out in Cleveland: Guardians lead Rays 2-1 after Petey Halpin's Game 3 homer

Heavy rain in Cleveland has forced Major League Baseball to postpone Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays, pushing the rest of the series back by a day. Cleveland lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 after a 3-2 win in Game 3 on Thursday, 15 October, sealed by a two-run home run from an unlikely source: No. 8 hitter Petey Halpin. Game 4 is now set for Saturday, 17 October at 8pm ET at Progressive Field, which is 8am on Sunday, 18 October in Malaysia.

Halpin's swing flips Game 3

Game 3 was itself moved forward from an evening start to 1pm ET because of the forecast, and the Guardians made the most of their afternoon. Nathaniel Lowe's double drove in Jo Adell for a second-inning lead before Chandler Simpson hit a two-out, two-run triple in the fourth to put Tampa Bay 2-1 up.

The game turned in the fifth. Catcher Patrick Bailey opened the inning with an infield single, and Halpin then drove a 2-2 sinker from Rays starter Griffin Jax over the right-field wall for a 3-2 lead. Statcast measured the ball at 105mph off the bat and about 385 feet. Halpin, who spent much of the regular season as a late-game defensive replacement, celebrated with an emphatic bat flip.

Starter Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings and allowed two runs before manager Stephen Vogt turned to his bullpen. Four relievers held the lead, with closer Cade Smith getting the final four outs. He struck out Yandy Diaz to end the eighth and then retired the side in order in the ninth.

Rain rewrites the schedule

Game 4 had been due to start on Friday night, 16 October, but the start was first delayed and the game was then called off as rain kept falling in Cleveland. Under the revised schedule reported by US outlets, the remaining games are:

• Game 4: Saturday, 17 October, 8pm ET in Cleveland (Sunday, 18 October, 8am Malaysia time)
• Game 5: Sunday, 18 October, 5pm ET in Cleveland (Monday, 19 October, 5am Malaysia time)
• Game 6 (if needed): Monday, 19 October, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg
• Game 7 (if needed): Tuesday, 20 October, in St. Petersburg

The rainout wipes out Sunday's planned rest day, so if the series goes the distance the two teams would play four games on four straight days with only a short flight between Games 5 and 6.

Pitching plans thrown into question

Before the postponement, Cleveland had planned to open Game 4 with reliever Shawn Armstrong while Tampa Bay named Nick Martinez as their starter. The extra day gives both managers room to rethink. Rested bullpens are an immediate plus, but with no off days left, managing fatigue over the final stretch could decide the series. Cleveland have home advantage for the next two games and need two more wins to reach the World Series for the first time since 2016.

Brewers waiting for an opponent

The winner will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series to reach their first World Series since 1982. Milwaukee hold home-field advantage, and Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, 23 October at American Family Field. Because of the time difference, that game will be played on Saturday, 24 October in Malaysia.

The Brewers' long wait is a mixed blessing: their pitchers get a full week of rest, but the team also risks losing momentum before facing whichever club comes out of a series that now has no breathing room.

Key takeaways

• Rain postponed ALCS Game 4 in Cleveland; it is now on Saturday, 17 October at 8pm ET (Sunday 8am Malaysia time).
• The Guardians lead the Rays 2-1 after Petey Halpin's two-run homer won Game 3 3-2.
• Gavin Williams struck out nine and Cade Smith earned a four-out save.
• Any remaining games will be played on consecutive days, with Games 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg.
• The Brewers await the winner, with World Series Game 1 on 23 October in Milwaukee.

FAQ

When is ALCS Game 4 in Malaysia time? Game 4 is scheduled for 8pm ET on Saturday, 17 October, which is 8am on Sunday, 18 October in Malaysia. Game 5 follows at 5am on Monday, 19 October, Malaysia time.

Who hit the winning home run in ALCS Game 3? Petey Halpin, batting eighth for Cleveland, hit a two-run homer off Griffin Jax in the fifth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win.

When does the 2026 World Series start? Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, 23 October (Saturday, 24 October in Malaysia) in Milwaukee, where the Brewers will host the ALCS winner.

Sources: MLB.com, CBS Sports, Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, ClutchPoints