MLB moves ALCS Game 3 start time to 1 PM over rain
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- ALCS Game 3 starts at 1 PM ET on Thursday, five hours early.
- Rain in Cleveland forced the change. The Rays-Guardians series is tied 1-1.
- NLCS Game 4 also moved. It now starts at 8 PM ET on Thursday.
Baseball fans got a new start time on Wednesday. Game 3 of the ALCS moved to 1 PM ET. The game was set for 6 PM ET.
Rain in Cleveland forced the change.
The Cleveland Guardians host the Tampa Bay Rays. The game is at Progressive Field. The series is tied 1-1.
The earlier start aims to beat the rain.
The change affects more than one game. NLCS Game 4 also moved. It now starts at 8 PM ET on Thursday.
That is one hour earlier than planned.
What happened
Major League Baseball announced the change on Wednesday. The league moved ALCS Game 3 up by five hours. The reason was simple.
Rain was forecast for Thursday night in Cleveland.
The Guardians shared the news with fans. Gates at Progressive Field now open at 11 AM ET. Fans can use the same ticket for the earlier start.
Parking passes moved to the new time too. That news came in the team statement.
The series itself is tight. Cleveland won Game 1 by 7-3 on Monday. Tampa Bay won Game 2 by 3-1 on Tuesday.
Game 2 was in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays play at Tropicana Field there.
Now the next three games are in Cleveland.
The weather picture looks worse for Friday. The chance of rain rises from 61 percent on Thursday to 91 percent on Friday. That is what USA TODAY reported.
Game 4 is set for 6 PM ET on Friday. Fans should watch for more changes.
Tampa Bay will start Griffin Jax in Game 3. Reuters reported that fact. Jax is a right-hand pitcher.
Cleveland had not named a starter when the league announced the change. That detail came from Reuters too.
Why it matters
A 1 PM start changes the day for fans. Many fans planned an evening at the park. Now they need a midday plan.
Work and school clash with a 1 PM first pitch. Some fans will watch from home instead.
The early start also changes the game. Day games play in a new way. The ball can move in a new way in daylight.
Shadows can cross the field in the afternoon. Hitters and fielders must adjust fast.
The schedule change also protects the series. Rain could wash out a night game. A washed-out game would push the whole series back.
An early start gives the game a clear window. The league wants to keep the series on track.
The NLCS felt the ripple too. The Dodgers and Brewers play Game 4 on Thursday. MLB moved it up one hour to 8 PM ET.
The league said the change followed the ALCS move. One schedule change led to the next.
The Brewers lead that series 3-0. They won Game 3 by 6-2 in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Teoscar Hernandez batted third for the Dodgers in that game.
The Dodgers now face a steep climb. No team wants to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series.
See the Game 3 preview. For the ALCS series background, see Guardians vs Rays ALCS showdown.
What happens next
Game 3 starts at 1 PM ET on Thursday. The game is at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Fans should arrive early.
Gates open at 11 AM ET.
Game 4 follows on Friday at 6 PM ET. Rain may threaten that game too. The forecast gives a 91 percent chance of rain.
MLB may change the time again. Fans should check the forecast before they travel.
NLCS Game 4 starts Thursday at 8 PM ET. It is at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Brewers can sweep with a win.
The Dodgers must win to stay alive. That game now sits in the prime evening slot.
If the series goes long, more games follow. The ALCS can return to Tampa Bay for Games 6 and 7. The NLCS can return to Milwaukee if needed.
The full path is in the World Series schedule for 2026.
For now, the key fact is simple. Check the clock before you tune in. Both league series start earlier than first planned on Thursday.
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