The start time for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series has been moved up five hours to 1 p.m. ET due to expected inclement weather.
I'm not a fan of playing in bad weather, but it looks like that's what we're getting on Thursday. ET because of expected inclement weather.
“It's going to be a challenging place to play,” — Rays
The Project: What We Know So Far
- Games 3, 4, and 5 will be played at Progressive Field over three consecutive days through Saturday.
- The pitching matchup for Game 3 will feature Griffin Jax on the mound for the Rays and Gavin Williams likely going for the Guardians.
Rain is in the forecast for northeast Ohio on Thursday night as the series transitions to Cleveland's open-air Progressive Field. This could make things tough for the Rays, who are looking to take the lead in the series.
The Series: Tied at One Game Apiece
After two games, the series is tied at one game apiece after the Guardians took Game 1 on Monday and the Rays rebounded to win Game 2 on Tuesday. The teams would return to Tropicana Field to play Games 6 and 7, if necessary, after a scheduled off-day Sunday.
The Stats: Why This Matters
According to Sports Illustrated, the team that takes a 2-1 lead after winning Game 3 goes on to win the series 70% of the time. In all best-of-seven series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams that have split the first two games at home still have gone on to win the series 50 of 90 times (56%).
The Next Development: What's At Stake
With the start time moved up and the weather forecast looking grim, it's clear that this game is going to be a challenge for both teams. But one thing is certain - whoever comes out on top will have a significant advantage in the series.
