Major League Baseball is trying to avoid a problem with Mother Nature.
Game 3 of the ALCS between the host Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays will now be played Thursday at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) because of the possibility of inclement weather in the evening, MLB announced Wednesday.
The game originally was scheduled for 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
As a result, MLB also announced that Game 4 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers will now be played at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) on Thursday, one hour earlier than it was originally scheduled for.
The league moved up the ALCS game because chances of precipitation in Cleveland go way up in the evening, based on the latest forecast.
Tampa Bay will send right-hander Griffin Jax to the mound. Jax (8-10, 3.52 ERA) struck out four and gave up one run in two innings of relief against the New York Yankees in the Division Series.
Cleveland is expected to go with Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA), who led the American League in strikeouts. The right-hander started Games 2 and 5 against the White Sox and tossed an inning in relief in Game 4. He had 24 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Rain also is a possibility on Friday for the scheduled Game 4.
The best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1 after the Rays won 3-1 in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Over in the NLCS, the Brewers hold a 2-0 lead on the Dodgers as the series shifts to L.A. for Games 3 and 4.
— With files from AP.
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