Game 3 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians is officially moving up five hours. Originally slated for a 6 p.m. ET start on Thursday, MLB just announced that the first pitch will now be thrown at 1 p.m. ET instead. Talk about a sudden shift!
Weather Forces MLB’s Hand In Cleveland
This big game time change is all thanks to “forecasted inclement weather” in the Cleveland area. Nobody wants a rain delay, especially not in the ALCS, right? MLB released a statement saying, “The change, which is based on forecasted rain on Thursday night in Cleveland, is being made proactively in order to remain on schedule in the ALCS.” Looking at the hourly forecasts, it shows rain and scattered thunderstorms rolling in late at night and overnight. Honestly, it’s a smart move. The league is trying to make sure the final few innings aren’t messed up by the weather, and we’ve all seen how much a suspended game can throw things off. It’s a proactive play to keep the series moving.
Series Status And What’s Ahead
The Rays and Guardians are absolutely battling it out, with the series tied up at one game apiece after they split the first two in Tampa Bay. Cleveland took Game 1, but then dropped Game 2 on Tuesday night, setting up this crucial Game 3. For the early afternoon showdown, Gavin Williams is set to take the mound for the Guardians, going up against the Rays’ Griffin Jax. It’s going to be a pitching duel, you can feel it!
Meanwhile, there’s another playoff game on Thursday, with Game 4 of the NLCS between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. That one’s still set for 9 p.m. ET, or 6 p.m. PT for the folks out west. The league isn’t touching that start time because of the local time zones involved, which makes sense. But back in Cleveland, the weather worries aren’t over. Current forecasts for Friday, when Game 4 is scheduled, are calling for rain throughout the day, though it’s expected to be “light” in the evening. That Friday game is currently still a 6 p.m. ET start, but who knows if further problems are looming.
So, get ready for some early afternoon playoff baseball. With the series tied and weather dictating the schedule, every pitch, and every forecast, is going to matter. Will the Guardians take the lead at home, or will the Rays steal one on the road? We’ll find out way earlier than planned!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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