Guardians Announce Pitching Decision After Game 4 Postponement

The rain changed the schedule, but it did not change the Cleveland Guardians’ plan. Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays was postponed on Friday after storms rolled through Northeast Ohio, pushing the game to Saturday night at Progressive Field. That extra day gave Stephen Vogt the option of reshuffling his pitching staff, with Foster Griffin lined up to pitch on normal rest after starting Game 1. Instead, Vogt decided to stick with the approach the Guardians had mapped out all along. Cleveland will go with a bullpen game, and the same veteran right hander will take the ball first.

“Shawn Armstrong will still serve as the Guardians’ opener on Saturday,” Tim Stebbins posted.

Shawn Armstrong will still serve as the Guardians’ opener on Saturday in the rescheduled ALCS Game 4

— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) October 17, 2026

It will be a big moment for the 36-year-old. Armstrong has made only eighteen starts in his entire big league career and has never started a postseason game. He has, however, been one of Cleveland’s most reliable relievers this October. Armstrong has thrown 5 1/3 scoreless innings this postseason, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and no walks. Across his entire postseason career, he has not allowed a run in six appearances.

There is also a strategic reason behind the choice. Armstrong’s main job will be to handle the top of the Rays’ lineup, including right-handed hitters Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero, who did damage against Griffin in the first inning of Game 1. Tampa Bay’s usual top three hitters are a combined 0-8 in their careers against Armstrong. The Rays appear to be adjusting, too, moving left-handed hitting Chandler Simpson up to the third spot in the order after his two-run triple in Game 3.

Armstrong also knows the Rays well. Tampa Bay acquired him in 2021, and he spent parts of three seasons with the organization, where he was occasionally used as an opener. He later pitched for St. Louis and Texas before signing a one-year deal with Cleveland, the organization where his big league career began. Armstrong missed a chunk of this season on the injured list before returning in late September, and he posted a 4.58 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings during the regular season.

The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who posted a 3.10 ERA over 31 starts during the regular season. The postponement could have given Tampa Bay a chance to start ace Drew Rasmussen on normal rest, but the Rays are sticking with Martinez.

Game 4 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. at Progressive Field, with Game 5 to follow on Sunday at 5 p.m. If Armstrong can get the Guardians off to a strong start, Cleveland’s deep bullpen will have a chance to do the rest.