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Why was Rays-Guardians ALCS Game 4 delayed today? Here’s why MLB halted play and when the game could start.
Rain has put ALCS Game 4 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians in doubt, with Tampa Bay one loss from a 3-1 series deficit. A “steady, moderately heavy” rain was described as falling on Progressive Field in Cleveland at 5 p.m. ET, about three hours before the scheduled 8:08 p/m. first pitch.
At 7:20, after hours of rain, MLB announced that the start of the game would indeed be delayed. But no new start time was announced. At 7:45, “the Cleveland Guardians’ grounds crew has begun working on the warning track,” according to reporter Jack Berney.
“Tonight’s scheduled 8:08 p.m. (ET) ALCS Game Four in Cleveland will begin in a delay. We will provide updates regarding the preparation of the field and any other potential adjustments as they become available,” the Guardians posted moments later, to their social media channels.
Scott Smith, sports director of Fox13, posted his projection of a start time no earlier than 9 p.m. ET. An online rumor claimed that first pitch had been set for 10:10 p.m. but as of 8 p.m., the rumor remained only that, a rumor, and completely unconfirmed.
“I think they can get the game in tonight if they can dry the warning track,” wrote meteorologist Bobby Deskins of WTSP in Tampa at about 6:40 p.m. “May have to start after 8pm, but before 9pm. Heaviest rain has moved through, light stuff later is thinning out!”
“Heavy rain and isolated storms are ongoing near and ofc at Progressive Field in Cleveland,” posted the weather account SevereMetricsWX at 7:15 p.m. “The next 20-25 mins from now could be telling as a break in the intensity of the rain could occur then opening things up for game time. Still TBD at this time.”
“Rain continues to come down here at Progressive Field. Field is tarped but the warning track is absolutely soaked with large puddles of water. We are less that two hours to first pitch,” wrote MyNews13 sports reporter Mike Cairns at 6:15 p.m.
“The standing water on the warning track is deep enough to read the reflection of the signs on the left field wall. And it is raining steadily. No postponement yet, wrote News-Herald reporter Jeff Schudel at 5:32 p.m. ET. “The gates just opened to fans.”
“Just under two hours until what’s expected to be first pitch for Game 4 and it’s raining sideways in Cleveland,” wrote Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass at 6:15 p.m. “Rays players had started warm up tosses but scurried to the dugout and clubhouse soon after.”
With rain still coming down steadily at 6:08., according to Cade Cracas of SINow.com, both teams were still “awaiting the verdict.”
Sports meteorologist Kevin Roth of MySportsWeather.com put the chance of rain at 8 p.m. at 51%, escalating to 57% by 9 p.m. and 64% an hour after that. If Roth’s forecast proves accurate, getting the game in, at least in uninterrupted fashion, seems less than likely.
No ALCS game has been postponed since 2019, when the Yankees hosted the Houston Astros, Reedy reported. Game 4 airs on TBS and HBO Max, according to WKBN‘s Game 4 broadcast report.
“Trying to play this game tonight is absurd,” wrote Guardians podcasters The Dery Brothers at about 5:10 p.m. as heavy rain continued to soak the field. “It’s an affront to the integrity of the series and the game making the teams play in this rain and wind. Sunday is totally clear. MLB is more concerned about avoiding going up against the NFL.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS STARTING LINEUP
SP: Shawn Armstrong (RHP) • 2-1, 4.58 ERA
ALCS Game 4 • October 16, 2026 • Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH • 8:00 PM ET • Rays (1-2) at Guardians (2-1)
#
Player
Pos
AVG
SLG
1
Steven Kwan
LF
.282
.349
2
José Ramírez
3B
.235
.368
3
Chase DeLauter
RF
.287
.457
4
Jo Adell
DH
.240
.401
5
Nathaniel Lowe
1B
.252
.444
6
Travis Bazzana
2B
.245
.408
7
Patrick Bailey
C
.206
.335
8
Petey Halpin
CF
.225
.326
9
Brayan Rocchio
SS
.253
.391
Lineups confirmed. Regular season stats shown (AVG / SLG). ALCS Game 4 • Series: CLE leads 2-1. A Cleveland win clinches a 3-1 series lead.
Progressive Field Forecast for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians
The Weather Channel puts the chance of rain in Cleveland at 44 percent at 6 p.m. ET, 62 percent at 7 p.m. and 50 percent at 8 p.m., according to Bleacher Report‘s updated Game 4 forecast.
The National Weather Service forecasts showers mainly after 5 p.m., with an 80 percent chance, and again before 2 a.m., also at 80 percent. Winds out of the west and north hold near 20 mph, with gusts between 33 mph and 38 mph. Temperatures fall through the upper 50s and into the low 50s by evening.
Gusts reached 32 mph in downtown Cleveland during light rain earlier in the day, according to AccuWeather, via Central Oregon Daily. Winds of 27 mph are blowing in toward the plate with a temperature of 54 degrees, according to CBS Sports‘ Game 4 betting preview.
Cleveland leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 after Petey Halpin‘s two-run homer produced a 3-2 victory in Game 3, according to NBC Sports‘ report on Game 3. A win tonight would leave the Guardians one victory from their first World Series since 2016, according to Yahoo Sports‘ Game 4 preview.
MLB moved Game 3 from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday to avoid evening showers, according to The Associated Press’ Game 3 report.
TAMPA BAY RAYS STARTING LINEUP
SP: Nick Martinez (RHP) • 15-6, 3.10 ERA
ALCS Game 4 • October 16, 2026 • Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH • 8:00 PM ET • Rays (1-2) at Guardians (2-1)
#
Player
Pos
AVG
SLG
1
Yandy Díaz
DH
.293
.446
2
Jonathan Aranda
1B
.274
.434
3
Chandler Simpson
LF
.306
.356
4
Junior Caminero
3B
.276
.524
5
Liam Hicks
C
.284
.434
6
Víctor Mesa Jr.
RF
.260
.498
7
Jonny DeLuca
CF
.266
.429
8
Richie Palacios
2B
.235
.374
9
Taylor Walls
SS
.222
.298
Lineups confirmed. Regular season stats shown (AVG / SLG). ALCS Game 4 • Series: CLE leads 2-1.
Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians Pitching Plans and Schedule Impact
Shawn Armstrong will open for Cleveland in a bullpen game, and Nick Martinez will start for Tampa Bay, according to ESPN‘s Game 4 pitching story. Both clubs held back their pitching announcements because of the weather. Armstrong has allowed one hit in 5 1/3 postseason innings, with five strikeouts.
Martinez carries a 3.10 ERA over 180 innings this season. He had extra rest after manager Kevin Cash gave Game 3 to Griffin Jax, according to ClutchPoints, citing Marc Topkin’s reporting.
A stoppage after first pitch can end a starter’s night early. A two-hour, 27-minute rain delay knocked Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes out of a game against the Rays this season, and Tampa Bay rallied against the Pirates bullpen for a 13-inning win. “Probably Skenes coming out of the game, if we’re going to be honest,” Cash said, according to MLB.com‘s coverage of that Pittsburgh game.
Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist who covers MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, boxing, golf, and Olympic sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Newspaper and Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering the Olympics, pro baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin