Guardians Announce Important Change Ahead Of Game 3

The Cleveland Guardians played sloppy baseball on Tuesday night, with botched plays, missed opportunities to challenge some decisions, and costly defensive errors. It all resulted in a 3-1 loss at Tropicana Field.

With that result, the American League Championship Series is now 1-1. Cleveland had won the opener on Monday.

Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at Progressive Field, where Guardians fans will have the chance to root for their team as it looks to pave the way to secure the American League pennant.

The game was originally scheduled for 6 pm ET, just before the National League Championship Series clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at 9 pm ET. However, the weather forecast forced the Guardians to make a change and move the game to an earlier time.

“Game 3 of the ALCS is being moved to 1 pm ET on Thursday because of the weather,” The Athletic’s Zack Meisel posted.

Game 3 of the ALCS is being moved to 1pm ET Thursday because of weather.

— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 14, 2026

Rain is expected to fall in Cleveland around the original 6 pm ET time, so the league has decided to make the game a matinee affair to ensure its completion.

“The Cleveland Guardians and MLB announced tomorrow’s ALCS Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays has been moved to a 1:00 p.m. ET first pitch due to incoming inclement weather expected on Thursday, October 15,” the team announced.

Gates to Progressive Field will now open at 11:00 am ET, per the team, and fans holding tickets to the game can use the exact same ticket to enter the 1:00 pm ET game.

The two teams are off on Wednesday as they move back to Cleveland ahead of Thursday’s Game 3. Griffin Jax is expected to take the ball for the Rays, while Gavin Williams should be the Guardians’ starter in the afternoon affair.

The Guardians stole home-field advantage with their win in Game 1, but Tampa Bay can claim it back if they get a victory on Thursday. It is now, essentially, a best-of-five series between two talented, yet very different squads.

The Guardians, who finished the regular season with 13 fewer regular-season wins than the Rays, are proving that they belong and that they mean business. That fact alone should be celebrated.