Steady rain in Cleveland forced MLB to postpone Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The stadium grounds crew was forced to pull the tarp well before the scheduled 8 p.m. ET first pitch.
The grounds crew continued working in an effort to salvage the game, but by approximately 9 p.m. ET, the league announced the game had been moved to Saturday. The postponement also pushed Game 5 to Sunday, eliminating the scheduled off day and travel day for the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays.
Should the series go the distance, the Guardians and Rays will play four games in four days to determine which advances to the World Series. Games 6 and 7 were already scheduled for consecutive days, Monday and Tuesday.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DESPERATELY NEEDS TO FIX ITS TERRIBLE POSTSEASON SCHEDULING PRACTICES
A tarp covers the field before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
In a statement acknowledging the inclement weather, the Guardians also said tickets purchased for Friday night’s game would be honored.
A general view of seating before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Oct. 16, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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“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.”
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Before tonight’s decision, it had been nearly four years since rain forced a postseason game to be rescheduled. The previous rainout came on Halloween in 2022, pushing Game 3 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies to the following day. Philadelphia shut out Houston 7-0 on Nov. 1, 2022.