Guardians, Rays brace for AL Series Game 4

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shawn Armstrong will be the opener for Cleveland and Tampa Bay will start Nick Martinez in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon. Both teams waited to announce their pitching plans because of the weather. It is supposed to rain in Cleveland most of Friday, but there is a window between 8 and 11 p.m. ET that could allow them to get the game played. The start time was also moved back two hours to 8 p.m. ET after the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series Thursday night. An ALCS game has not been postponed since 2019, when the New York Yankees hosted the Houston Astros. This will be Armstrong’s fifth appearance this postseason in what will be a bullpen game for Cleveland. The right-hander has allowed only one hit in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Armstrong thought his season was done in late July when he suffered a calf strain, but he returned during the final week of the regular...