Rain Moves Rays-Guardians ALCS Game 3 to 1 p.m. Thursday

Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will start five hours early. The Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians will play at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 15, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, moved up from 6 p.m. ET because of forecast rain on Thursday night.

Major League Baseball announced the change on Wednesday, October 14. The league moved the start to keep the best of seven series on schedule and to give the game the best chance to finish before the worst weather arrives.

The series is tied at one game each. Cleveland won Game 1 by 7-3 on Monday, October 12. Tampa Bay won Game 2 by 3-1 on Tuesday, October 13, in St. Petersburg. Games 3, 4 and 5 will all be played in Cleveland.

What fans need to know

Gates at Progressive Field will open at 11 a.m. ET. Existing tickets remain valid for the new start time. That includes tickets bought on the secondary market.

The broadcast plan does not change. The game will air on TBS and on other TNT Sports platforms, as first scheduled.

Fans who planned a night at the park now have a day game instead. Workers, schools and travel plans will all feel the shift, but the alternative was a long rain delay or a postponement that would squeeze the rest of the series.

The pitching matchup

Tampa Bay will start right hander Griffin Jax. The Associated Press reported his season line as 8-10 with a 3.52 ERA.

Cleveland is expected to start Gavin Williams. He is not yet confirmed. Williams went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA this season and led the American League in strikeouts.

That matchup now comes with a daytime start and a wet forecast around it. Both clubs will watch the weather as closely as the lineups.

Rain threatens the rest of the week too

The move solves Thursday, at least on paper. It does not clear the rest of the week.

USA Today put the chance of rain in Cleveland at 61 percent on Thursday, rising to 91 percent on Friday. Game 4 is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Game 5 is slated for Saturday, October 17, at 8 p.m. ET.

If Friday turns wet, the league may face the same choice again, with less room to move. A postponement late in a championship series affects pitching plans, travel and rest for both teams.

For now, the plan is simple. Play early on Thursday, beat the rain, and keep the series moving.

Key numbers

• New start: Game 3 at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 15, five hours earlier than planned
• Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland
• Gates open: 11 a.m. ET, and all existing tickets remain valid
• Series: tied 1-1 after Cleveland won Game 1 by 7-3 and Tampa Bay won Game 2 by 3-1
• Tampa Bay starter: Griffin Jax, 8-10, 3.52 ERA, as reported by the Associated Press
• Cleveland starter expected: Gavin Williams, 14-8, 3.76 ERA, American League strikeout leader
• Rain chance: 61 percent Thursday and 91 percent Friday, per USA Today
• Game 4: Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Game 5: Saturday, October 17, at 8 p.m. ET

The wider playoff picture

The National League Championship Series also plays Game 3 on Wednesday night. That game is at Dodger Stadium, and Milwaukee leads Los Angeles two games to none.

By Thursday afternoon, Cleveland fans will know if the early start beat the weather. The first pitch is now set for lunch time, and the rain will decide the rest.