The Cleveland Guardians have been surprisingly competitive in the American League Championship Series, winning two of the three games played so far against the Tampa Bay Rays. You could even say that they came somewhat close to taking Game 2 if it wasn’t for that sloppy fourth inning.
Cleveland won Game 3 on Thursday behind right-hander Gavin Williams and a brilliant performance from the bullpen. Fans at Progressive Field got to enjoy Petey Halpin’s career-defining moment.
Now, it’s time to turn the page and try to focus on winning Game 4. It will be played on Friday at 8 pm ET in Cleveland.
The Rays had already announced right-hander Nick Martinez as their starter for Friday. The Guardians, however, were still deciding.
They finally made up their minds on Friday morning. They went the unconventional route.
“Shawn Armstrong will start/open for the Guardians tonight in Game 4,” MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins, who covers the Guardians on a daily basis, posted.
Shawn Armstrong will start/open for the Guardians tonight in Game 4.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) October 16, 2026
Armstrong had a somewhat difficult regular season in 2026, with injuries and falling short of high expectations. He posted a 4.58 ERA, just a year after finishing with a stellar 2.31 in Texas.
However, it’s safe to say that Armstrong is peaking at the right time. After leaving behind a calf strain in the stretch run, he has given the Guardians 5.1 scoreless innings in the 2026 postseason, with no walks and five punchouts. He is finally resembling the pitcher he was last year with the Rangers, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Cleveland.
Armstrong, however, won’t be a traditional starter. He is not built to last much longer than an inning or maybe two. He will act as the Guardians’ ‘opener’, pitching in front of a bulk reliever or as the first arm in a bullpen game.
The Guardians have multiple options to pitch after Armstrong. They could go with Joey Cantillo or Tanner Bibee if they want some length.
There is a considerable chance of rain forcing the league to reschedule the game, but it’s a go for now. A Cleveland win on Friday night will put them much, much closer to the World Series.
NEXT: Analyst Has Honest Admission About Guardians World Series Chances
