Gavin Williams has already given Cleveland three straight postseason starts with at least nine strikeouts, and the Guardians will carry a 2-1 American League Championship Series lead into Game 4 against the Rays on Friday at Progressive Field.
Cleveland’s 3-2 victory in Game 3 put the club within one win of sending Tampa Bay to the brink. The Guardians entered the series as the perceived underdog, but their October formula has traveled from the Division Series comeback against the White Sox: pitching, defense, pressure on the bases and a home park that has made every late inning feel tighter.
“This crowd is easy to feed off,” Williams said. “It’s a major baseball town and a great sports city. Fans get invested, and I love that.”
The result
Petey Halpin’s go-ahead two-run homer supplied the decisive swing in Thursday’s 3-2 Cleveland win. It was another game decided on narrow margins, following Tampa Bay’s 3-1 win in Game 2. Neither club has created much room for error, and the series has settled into a contest of strong arms, clean defense and one timely play.
Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson described the matchup as two clubs seeing familiar traits across the diamond.
“It’s a dogfight,” Simpson said. “It’s almost like looking in a mirror. Their best pitchers are having quality at-bats, putting balls in play, advancing runners, picking their spots, stealing bases and playing good defense. We knew we would have to play our game the same way. It comes down to which team does that best.”
Tampa Bay needs more from the heart of its order after Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero combined to go 1-for-12 in Game 3. Caminero finished 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and is still looking for the October breakthrough expected from the Rays’ third baseman.
“They have pitched us well, and that is what they have done all year against us and other teams,” Caminero said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “We have to improve, make adjustments and keep moving forward.”
Simpson accounted for Tampa Bay’s offense with a two-run triple in the fourth inning of Game 3. He also delivered an important single during the Rays’ three-run fourth in Game 2.
Williams moved past Andrew Miller into fourth place on Cleveland’s postseason strikeout list with 45. Only Charles Nagy with 55, Orel Hershiser with 54 and Corey Kluber with 47 are ahead of him.
| Game 4 | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Rays at Guardians, ALCS Game 4 |
| Scheduled first pitch | Friday, 6 p.m. ET |
| Ballpark | Progressive Field, Cleveland |
| Television | TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max |
| Radio | Spanish-language coverage on TUDN Radio |
Weather remains a factor after the Game 3 start was moved from 6 p.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET. More rain is forecast in the Cleveland area. If the Brewers complete a sweep of the Dodgers, Game 4 would shift to an 8 p.m. ET start.
The rotation next
The Guardians are expected to use a bullpen game if Friday’s contest is played as scheduled. Left-hander Joey Cantillo could carry a substantial share of the innings after working a scoreless inning, with two walks, in Game 1. He threw 17 pitches in that appearance.
Cleveland could use Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi for length, though either could also be used as an opener. Right-hander Daniel Espino has opened four times since September, including regular-season and postseason work, but he threw a scoreless inning in Game 3. Veteran Shawn Armstrong is another possible choice to take the first inning; he has not allowed a run in four postseason appearances.
If rain pushes the game to Saturday, left-hander Foster Griffin becomes an option on regular rest. Griffin started Game 1 on Monday. The Rays’ right-handed threats at the top of the order, Díaz leading off and Caminero batting third, could make a right-handed opener appealing if Cleveland stays with the bullpen route.
Tampa Bay will send Martinez to the mound. He allowed no runs in 13 innings over two regular-season starts against Cleveland. He blanked the Guardians for seven innings in a 1-0 Rays win at Progressive Field on April 28, then threw six more scoreless innings in a 3-0 Tampa Bay victory at Tropicana Field on July 25.
Martinez last started in the Division Series on Oct. 7 at Yankee Stadium, allowing two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings. Griffin Jax was placed ahead of him in the Rays’ ALCS sequence, but Martinez now gets the assignment with Tampa Bay seeking to even the series.
If the Rays can extend the matchup, ace Drew Rasmussen is lined up for Game 5 on regular rest. Freddy Peralta would be in position for Game 6 should the series return to Tropicana Field.
Projected lineups
Stephen Vogt has largely stayed with the same Cleveland alignment this postseason, and Halpin has started each of the last four games. His Game 3 homer should keep him in center field.
| Guardians | Position | Rays | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Kwan | LF | Yandy Díaz | DH |
| José Ramírez | 3B | Jonathan Aranda | 1B |
| Chase DeLauter | RF | Junior Caminero | 3B |
| Jo Adell | DH | Victor Mesa Jr. | RF |
| Nathaniel Lowe | 1B | Chandler Simpson | LF |
| Travis Bazzana | 2B | Liam Hicks | C |
| Patrick Bailey | C | Jonny DeLuca | CF |
| Petey Halpin | CF | Richie Palacios | 2B |
| Brayan Rocchio | SS | Taylor Walls | SS |
Tampa Bay’s order is less certain because Cleveland has not declared its pitching plan. The Rays’ core of Díaz, Aranda and Caminero figures to remain intact, with the rest of the lineup depending on whether the Guardians open with a right-hander or left-hander.
Late-inning choices
Cleveland may need every available arm to cover 27 outs if it proceeds with a bullpen game Friday. A postponement until Saturday would give the Guardians an extra day and should leave the entire relief group available.
Cade Smith has been one of Cleveland’s October constants, posting a 1.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in nine innings across seven appearances.
For Tampa Bay, Tyler Wells and Steven Matz each supplied two scoreless innings in Game 3 and could still be called upon in an all-hands postseason setting. Ian Seymour has become a primary setup choice ahead of closer Bryan Baker, while Cam Booser has handled major matchups against left-handed hitters. Kevin Kelly and Wells also sit among the options before Baker, who has earned the save in each of the Rays’ four postseason victories.
Notes from the series
- Cleveland has taken a 2-1 ALCS advantage four times. The franchise won the 1997 series against Baltimore, then lost after similar starts to the Yankees in 1998 and the Red Sox in 2007.
- The Rays have never previously trailed 2-1 through three games of an ALCS. They led Boston 2-1 in 2008 and held a 3-0 advantage over Houston in 2020.
- Liam Hicks threw out two Cleveland runners attempting to steal in Game 3, the first multi-caught-stealing postseason game by a Rays catcher.
- Caminero and Jonny DeLuca were both cleared after their hard collision chasing a foul ball in Game 1.
- Left-hander Shane McClanahan, sidelined late in the regular season by left forearm tightness, has been shut down for the remainder of the postseason.
- Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana went 0-for-3 in Game 3 and is 4-for-27, a .148 average, across eight postseason games.
The series has not offered much breathing room, and Cleveland’s home crowd has supplied some of it where it can. The Guardians have the lead, the Rays have Martinez, and Friday’s game may come down to the same October question that decided the first three: which club can turn one opening into the inning that matters.
