Steady rainfall in Cleveland compelled Major League Baseball to postpone Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The stadium's grounds crew had deployed the tarp well in advance of the originally scheduled 8 p.m. ET first pitch.
Despite continuous efforts by the grounds crew to make the field playable, the league officially announced around 9 p.m. ET that the game would be moved to Saturday. This postponement also shifted Game 5 to Sunday, consequently removing the planned off day and travel day for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Should the series extend to its maximum length, the Guardians and Rays would face a grueling schedule, playing four consecutive days to determine the American League champion who will advance to the World Series. Games 6 and 7 were already slated for back-to-back days, Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Updated Schedule and Ticket Information
In response to the inclement weather, the Guardians issued a statement confirming the postponement and providing details for ticket holders.
Fans with tickets to the original ALCS Game 4 on Friday, October 16 may use those same tickets for ALCS Game 5 on Sunday, October 18 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Historical Context of Postseason Delays
This decision marks a rare occurrence, as it has been nearly four years since rain last forced a postseason game to be rescheduled. The previous instance was on Halloween in 2022, when Game 3 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies was pushed to the following day. That rescheduled contest saw Philadelphia secure a 7-0 shutout victory over Houston on November 1, 2022.