Seriously, the biggest winner in Game 4 of the ALDS wasn’t Cleveland, even though they got the 9-5 win. Nah, it was the Tampa Bay Rays, chilling out and probably sipping something tropical while the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox absolutely obliterated their pitching staffs just to force a Game 5. These two clubs just battled through an agonizing slugfest, and they’re gonna have to do it all over again on Saturday, October 10. Then, one of them gets to immediately pack up and fly straight to Florida for Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday, October 12, with their arms literally hanging by a thread. The Rays? They swept the New York Yankees on Wednesday, October 7, so their pitchers are getting a much-deserved breather, and manager Kevin Cash is just casually lining up his pitching staffs and batting order exactly how he wants ’em. This is too easy for Tampa Bay.
The Pitchingocalypse That Was Game 4
What a freaking grind in Chicago! It was supposed to be the White Sox’s moment, right? They were the upstart team, coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons, and suddenly, they’re in the playoffs, sweeping the Houston Astros in the wild-card round. Then they took the first two games against the Guardians in Cleveland and came back to Rate Field needing just one more win to clinch their first postseason series at home since 1906. But nope, that’s not what happened. Cleveland, desperate, put up a fight, winning 9-5, and now both teams are paying the price. Chicago and Cleveland combined to use an absolutely bonkers 15 pitchers, throwing more than 350 pitches! Can you believe that? The two games in Chicago each dragged on for over three hours, too.
You want to talk about specific innings? In the sixth alone, when Cleveland exploded for six runs, Anthony Kay, Grant Taylor, and Bryan Hudson collectively threw 31 pitches. And it didn’t stop there. In the ninth, after Miguel Vargas smacked a lead-off homer and Munetaka Murakami walked, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had no choice but to bring in Gavin Williams from the bullpen, even though Williams had just pitched three days earlier. That’s how desperate things got. There aren’t enough ice baths or stim machines in the world to erase that kind of exhaustion, especially with a flight to Florida looming.
Tampa Bay’s Golden Ticket
Look, the Rays were already going to be favored in the ALCS. They finished the regular season as the American League’s best team, no surprises there. But now? Their path to the World Series just got a whole lot smoother. While the Guardians and White Sox are beating each other to a pulp, literally draining their bullpens and pushing their starters to the absolute limit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers are getting precious rest, their manager is strategically planning out every move, and they’re watching the chaos unfold with giant smiles on their faces.
Whoever emerges from this ALDS brawl, whether it’s the White Sox or the Guardians, they’re heading into the ALCS with a roster full of tired arms and sore bodies. It’s a short flight, sure, but the toll of those 3-hour-plus games and that insane pitch count is going to be massive. The Rays’ job just got exponentially easier, and it’s all thanks to the Game 4 pitching marathon.
Get ready for Game 5 on Saturday, October 10. The winner gets a trip to Florida and a date with destiny against the fully charged, well-rested Tampa Bay Rays. Good luck with that, folks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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