Milwaukee has earned a breather after finishing off the Dodgers, while the American League Championship Series heads into Friday night with Tampa Bay needing a response and Cleveland trying to stretch its advantage.
| ALCS Game 4 | Matchup | Series | First Pitch | Probable Starters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Rays at Guardians | Cleveland leads 2-1 | 8 p.m. ET | Nick Martinez, Rays, vs. Cleveland starter to be announced |
The Guardians took Thursday’s Game 3 by a 3-2 score, leaving the Rays with an uncomfortable assignment in Cleveland. A Tampa Bay loss would put the AL’s top seed one defeat from elimination when the clubs return Saturday. A Rays win, meanwhile, would guarantee that the Brewers remain on hold for at least two additional games as they wait for their World Series opponent.
Milwaukee’s wait comes with some satisfaction. The Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Dodgers on Thursday to reach the franchise’s first World Series since 1982. They will open the Fall Classic at home, with Cleveland and Tampa Bay now left to sort out the AL pennant.
Tampa Bay needs its middle of the order
The Rays have not scored more than three runs in any game of this series, and their Game 3 line showed how thin the offense has become: three hits in 30 at-bats, one walk and 13 strikeouts.
| Rays hitters in Game 3 | H | AB | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team total | 3 | 30 | 1 | 13 |
Much of that is a credit to Cleveland pitching, but the Rays’ leading regular-season bats have yet to take control. Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda, who occupy the first three spots in the lineup, have combined to go 5-for-34 in the ALCS. Their lone extra jolt has been one home run, and together they have driven in just one run.
Aranda is hitless through 10 series at-bats. Caminero, expected to place among the American League’s top three MVP finishers, struck out four times Thursday. Against a Guardians staff that has made every scoring opening scarce, Tampa Bay needs its stars to create the next opening rather than wait for one.
Vogt faces another bullpen puzzle
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt has no obvious fully rested starter lined up for Game 4 after a draining stretch that began with a long series against the White Sox. The Guardians have used six pitchers in the opener against Tampa Bay, four in Game 2 and five in Game 3.
Gavin Williams started Thursday, while closer Cade Smith recorded the final four outs. Smith has appeared in seven of Cleveland’s eight postseason games and has worked beyond one inning three times. The Guardians hold the series edge, but another heavy bullpen night could reshape the rest of the matchup quickly.
That concern looms particularly if the Rays level the series and can send Drew Rasmussen to the mound in Game 5. Cleveland has handled the reliever shuffle well to this point. Friday asks Vogt to find another version of that formula without overworking the arms he may need later.
Halpin joins Cleveland’s October surprise party
Petey Halpin supplied the swing that pushed Cleveland ahead Thursday, launching the go-ahead home run with a towering bat flip to match. It was an unlikely October moment from a rookie whose regular-season slugging percentage was .326 and whose usual value comes in center field defense.
The blast recalled the postseason’s long history of unexpected power, including utility infielder Tom Lawless’ memorable home run for St. Louis in the 1987 World Series against Minnesota’s Frank Viola. Lawless hit only three homers in his major league career, but one of them landed on the game’s largest stage.
Halpin is not the only Guardian supplying a surprise. Catcher Patrick Bailey, a career .339 slugger, owns a .609 slugging percentage this postseason and has delivered important homers in both the Division Series and Championship Series.
Cleveland is not built around a lineup full of long-ball threats. That makes the club’s October formula all the more dependent on another unexpected contributor stepping forward. With the Rays fighting to keep their season alive, Friday offers another chance for one to emerge.
