Guardians and Rays Clash in Pivotal ALCS Game 3
The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 as the Cleveland Guardians host the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 3, with the first pitch moved up to 1 p.m. ET due to weather concerns.
The American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays is knotted at one game apiece as they head to Progressive Field for Game 3. The pivotal matchup is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET today, October 15, a change from the originally planned 6 p.m. start time due to forecasts of inclement weather.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt expressed confidence despite the team's Game 2 loss. "We feel great. Obviously, we would have loved to have taken [Game 2]," Vogt said. "That would have been really big. And we had our position and our opportunities to do that. But going home 1-1, to go have three games in front of our fans in Cleveland, we feel really good about that. And we’re excited to get it going."
The Rays will send right-handed pitcher Griffin Jax to the mound, who holds an 8-10 record with a 3.52 earned run average this season. The Guardians are set to counter with their ace, Gavin Williams, a right-hander who has posted a 14-8 record and a 3.76 ERA. Williams has a strong track record against the Rays, with a 2-1 record and a 1.80 ERA in five career starts dating back to 2023. In his most recent outing against Tampa Bay on April 29, Williams allowed just one earned run over 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine in a 3-1 victory.
Fans without cable can stream the game for free through a five-day trial of DIRECTV. The game will also be broadcast on TBS.
The series began with the Guardians taking Game 1 by a score of 7-3, but the Rays responded by winning Game 2, 3-1. Following today's Game 3, the teams are scheduled to play Game 4 on October 16 and Game 5 on October 17, both also to be broadcast on TBS, with potential Game 6 and Game 7 contests scheduled for October 19 and 20 respectively, if necessary.