The Cleveland Guardians return home for ALCS Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays, with both teams tied 1-1 and vying for a chance to reach the World Series.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians are back home at Progressive Field as they look to take control of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. After splitting the first two games on the road, the best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 heading into Thursday afternoon’s Game 3.

The Guardians will be playing at 1 p.m. after their game time was moved up from 6 p.m. due to weather concerns. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 3 of the ALCS.


GAME INFO, HOW TO WATCH ON TV, BETTING LINE

Time: 1 p.m. ETLocation: Progressive Field in ClevelandTickets can be purchased HERE TV: TBS, TruTV, Univision/TUDNStreaming: HBO MaxRadio: WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, ESPN Radio, WARF 1350, Guardians Radio NetworkMoneyline: -136 Guardians, +116 Rays Run line: -1.5 Guardians (+165), +1.5 Rays (-200) Total: Over/under 6.5 runs To win the series: -135 Rays, +115 Guardians 

RELATED: Cleveland Guardians announce ALCS festivities, new food options at Progressive Field


PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (1-0, 1.54 ERA, 11 2/3 IP, 24 K)Rays: RHP Griffin Jax (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 IP, 4 K)

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2026 postseason.


ALCS SCHEDULE

Best-of-seven series played in a 2-3-2 format, with the higher seed (Rays) receiving home-field advantage. 

Game 1: (Guardians win 7-3) Monday, Oct. 12, at Tropicana FieldGame 2: (Rays win 3-1) Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Tropicana FieldGame 3: Thursday, Oct. 15, 1 p.m. at Progressive FieldGame 4: Friday, Oct. 16, TBD at Progressive FieldGame 5: Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. at Progressive FieldGame 6: Monday, Oct. 19, TBD at Tropicana Field (if necessary)Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m. at Tropicana Field (if necessary)


ALCS FESTIVITIES AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD

Gates open: 11 a.m. (all fans will receive a free “Stand Guard” rally towel)Gateway District: Brady Lorince (8:30-11:20 a.m.)Right Field District: Block Party with DJ Nick Duvé (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)Ceremonial first pitch: Cavaliers guard Donovan MitchellColor guard: Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Space Force  National anthem: World-renowned saxophonist Mike PhillipsGod Bless America: Lt. Col Scott Allen, U.S. Air Force Reserve 910th Airlift WingMid-first inning: “Stand Guard” bannerIn-park DJ: DJ Kyro


PREVIEW

Progressive Field is set to welcome the ALCS to Cleveland, where Guardians fans helped create an electric atmosphere during the team’s win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Cleveland will look to feed off that home crowd as it tries to bounce back from Tuesday’s 3-1 loss.

The Guardians have won four of their last five postseason games and will turn to Gavin Williams as they look to regain the series lead. Williams was a key part of Cleveland’s ALDS comeback against Chicago, making two starts and an emergency relief appearance. After recording the final three outs of Game 4, he returned on one day’s rest in Game 5 and struck out a franchise playoff-record 12 batters, as Cleveland secured a 2-0 win to advance.

The Guardians will also look to get their offense back on track after struggling against Tampa Bay starter Freddy Peralta’s fastball in Game 2. José Ramírez, one of Cleveland’s key contributors throughout the postseason, will be hoping to bounce back after a fielding error helped the Rays score three unearned runs Tuesday night. Ramírez did extend his three-year postseason on-base streak to 14 games with a single.

On the other side, Tampa Bay will turn to Griffin Jax, who started 23 games during the regular season and most recently pitched two innings of relief against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS, throwing 32 pitches.

With Wednesday’s off day giving both teams a chance to reset, Cleveland will look to take advantage of its return home and put itself in front in a series that determines who advances to the World Series. 


WHAT’S AT STAKE 

A trip to the World Series is on the line as the top two seeds in the American League meet in a best-of-seven series.

For Cleveland, the opportunity is to reach the World Series for the first time since 2016 and pursue the franchise’s first championship since 1948 — the longest active title drought in baseball.

Tampa Bay is chasing its first World Series appearance since 2020 and the third American League pennant in franchise history. The Rays have reached the World Series twice, in 2008 and 2020, but have yet to win a championship.

The winner of the ALCS will face the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers. 


HISTORY IN THE MLB POSTSEASON 

Cleveland and Tampa Bay have met twice in the MLB postseason, with each team winning one series. Their first postseason meeting came in 2013, when the Rays defeated Cleveland 4-0 in the American League Wild Card Game at Progressive Field.

The Guardians got their revenge in 2022, sweeping a best-of-three AL Wild Card Series in two games to advance to the ALDS.