The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians share a common opponent across their three upcoming games at Progressive Field: Mother Nature. Inclement weather forecasts in Cleveland forced Major League Baseball to move the third game of the series up to 1:00 p.m. The scheduling adjustment arrives as both teams split the opening two games of the series.
Early Afternoon Start Time Evasion
Major League Baseball adjusted the Thursday schedule to 1:00 p.m. to beat expected evening rain in Cleveland. According to MLB Network, this marks the earliest starting time for a championship series game in the Eastern Time Zone since Game 5 of the 1988 National League playoffs between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, which began at 12:20 p.m. at Shea Stadium. The game back in 1988 occurred because the third game of the series had been reported in consequence of rain, pushing the schedule back by a day.
“I think Major League Baseball did the right thing,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters on Wednesday regarding the early start. “They estimated more probable that we are going to have rain in the middle or late afternoon. So let’s push the game up and try to play a maximum of innings in the dry. Having had an off day probably helps a little bit.”
Weather Disruptions and Series Standing
The weather threat threatens to cause further scheduling turbulence, with rain forecast throughout the entire day on Friday. Game 4 is scheduled for 18:00 on Friday, while the first pitch for Game 5 is to take place at 20:00 on Saturday. The teams split the first two contests of the series, as the Guardians opened with a 7-3 victory on Monday before the Rays bounced back with a 3-1 win on Tuesday. Logistics for the clubs shifted immediately following Tuesday’s contest; the Rays flew to Cleveland, while the Guardians stayed overnight in Florida before catching a flight Wednesday morning.
Pitching Matchups for Game Three
The Rays will hand the ball to right-hander Griffin Jax for the third game. Jax (8-10, 3.52 ERA) logged four strikeouts and surrendered one run over two relief innings against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of their division series—his first relief appearance since April 21. Thursday marks his first postseason start, though he previously made four relief outings with the Minnesota Twins during the 2023 playoffs.
“It’s a great honor, an honor I’ve been waiting for really a long time now that I’m part of the rotation,” Jax stated.
The Guardians counter with right-hander Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA), who led the American League in strikeouts this season. Williams tied a team postseason record with 12 strikeouts during a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the decisive match of that series.
“They don’t strike out often. They’re going to put the ball in play. They’re going to put a lot of pressure on us. I’m just going to have to execute the best I can,” Williams remarked of the Rays.
National League Adjustments
Major League Baseball also adjusted the start time for Game 4 of the National League series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. That contest at Dodger Stadium will begin one hour earlier, at 17:00 (20:00 Eastern Time), with the Brewers holding a 2-0 series lead.
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