The Cleveland Guardians spent several hours at Progressive Field on Friday waiting to play Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, but the rain never let up. The game against the Tampa Bay Rays was eventually postponed, and the rest of the series was pushed back as a result. Game 4 will now be played Saturday at 8 p.m., Game 5 is set for Sunday at 5 p.m., and Games 6 and 7, if needed, will be played back to back on Monday and Tuesday in Tampa Bay. That means the Guardians and Rays could play four straight days with a trip to the World Series on the line. Stephen Vogt was asked about the schedule shuffle on Friday night, and he did not sound the least bit concerned.
The Cleveland manager made it clear his team is ready for whatever comes next.
“Let’s go. It’s [like] the regular season. We play four in a row all the time. Obviously, it’s not ideal for either team. I think we both wanted to play today, but just wasn’t in the cards. We got four games in a row. We got an opportunity to win some games and move on, and that’s all we’re focused on,” Vogt said.
“Let’s go. It's [like] the regular season. We play four in a row all the time.”#Guardians Stephen Vogt on the potential challenge of having to play 4 playoff games in a row #GuardsBall x @WEWS pic.twitter.com/ibwZspEjg8
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) October 17, 2026
Vogt started his answer by simply saying, let’s go. He compared the stretch ahead to the regular season, pointing out that teams play four games in a row all the time. He admitted the postponement was not ideal for either side and said both teams wanted to play on Friday, but it just was not in the cards. In his view, all that matters now is taking advantage of the chance to win games and advance.
Vogt also pointed out that rain delays are part of life for a baseball team in Cleveland, saying the Guardians are more than used to days like this one. The weather already forced a change earlier in the series, when Game 3 was moved up from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday because of the forecast.
The bigger challenge will be managing the pitching staff. During the division series against the White Sox, Cleveland had three off days spread throughout the series. This time, there will be no breaks. Vogt confirmed that Shawn Armstrong will start Game 4 on Saturday as the Guardians had planned, with Foster Griffin, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi all available behind him. Parker Messick could start either Game 5 or Game 6, and Gavin Williams appears lined up for a potential Game 7.
The bullpen will be tested, too. Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis have each pitched in seven games this postseason, and Erik Sabrowski has pitched in six. Gaddis said before Friday’s postponement that he still feels good and wants the ball as often as possible, which is exactly the attitude Cleveland will need over the next few days.
Vogt has kept a steady, one game at a time approach throughout this postseason, and that is not changing now. Four games in four days might not be ideal, but as far as he is concerned, it is just another opportunity. Game 4 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. at Progressive Field.
NEXT: Insider Reveals How Game 4 Postponement Could Impact Parker Messick
