Updated October 16, 2026, after MLB confirmed the Game 4 pitching plans and revised start time.

Rays vs. Guardians ALCS Game 4: First Pitch, TV, and Starting Pitchers

Tampa Bay visits Cleveland for American League Championship Series Game 4 on Friday, October 16, at 8:00 p.m. in Cleveland. The game is scheduled for Progressive Field. MLB lists the national broadcast on TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and UniMás. The confirmed starting pitchers are right-hander Nick Martinez for the Rays and right-hander Shawn Armstrong for the Guardians, who will use Armstrong as an opener in a bullpen game.

Confirmed first pitch: 8:00 p.m. EDT in Cleveland

MLB’s updated postseason schedule lists Rays–Guardians Game 4 for Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The same instant is Saturday, October 17, at 00:00 UTC. Cleveland is observing daylight saving time on October 16, so EDT and UTC−04:00 are the correct local time label and offset for this date.

The start time was conditional in MLB’s earlier schedule. The league said the ALCS game would move from 6 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET if the National League Championship Series ended in a sweep. Milwaukee completed that sweep of Los Angeles on Thursday, October 15, and MLB’s current schedule now lists the Guardians–Rays game at 8 p.m. ET. That updated listing is reflected in MLB’s 2026 postseason schedule and the league’s Game 4 guide.

For fans using a calendar set to another time zone, keep the two date labels straight: it is Friday evening in Cleveland, but the UTC date has rolled over to Saturday. The game’s actual start does not change when it is converted; only the displayed clock time and, for some viewers, the calendar date will differ.

Where to watch Rays vs. Guardians

MLB lists Game 4 on TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and UniMás. The league’s Game 4 guide specifies TBS and HBO Max for the U.S. telecast, with UniMás providing Spanish-language game coverage. Spanish-language radio is available through Univision’s TUDN Radio. Access to a channel or stream can depend on a viewer’s television or streaming package.

These are U.S. national broadcast listings. They do not establish that the same channels or services carry the game in every country. Viewers outside the United States should consult MLB’s international postseason broadcaster list and local listings for the rights holder in their location. Check those details separately from the game time, because broadcast rights vary by territory.

Confirmed starting pitchers

Rays: Nick Martinez, right-hander. MLB names Martinez as Tampa Bay’s Game 4 starter. The 36-year-old had been available in different roles during the opening games of the series, but the club’s plan for Friday is for him to start. MLB’s preview notes that he delivered 13 scoreless innings across two regular-season starts against Cleveland this year: seven scoreless innings in a 1–0 win at Progressive Field on April 28, followed by six scoreless innings in a 3–0 win at Tropicana Field on July 25. Those past outings provide matchup context; they do not predict how Friday’s game will unfold.

Guardians: Shawn Armstrong, right-hander and opener. MLB reports Cleveland will begin a bullpen game with Armstrong. His opening assignment is to face the top of Tampa Bay’s order before the Guardians turn to relief options. MLB identifies left-hander Joey Cantillo and right-handers Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi as possible bulk-inning choices behind Armstrong. The precise sequence and workload can change with the game situation, so those names should be read as options in the published plan, not a guaranteed pitching order.

The confirmed starter information is more specific than the earlier description of a likely bullpen game. Check MLB’s Game 4 lineups and FAQ close to first pitch for any late changes. The official article currently identifies both Martinez and Armstrong and describes Armstrong’s opener role.

What Game 4 means in the ALCS

Cleveland enters Game 4 with a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Guardians won Game 1, 7–3; Tampa Bay evened the series with a 3–1 win in Game 2; and Cleveland moved ahead by taking Game 3, 3–2. These results are also reflected in the league’s postseason schedule.

A Guardians win would put Cleveland up 3–1 and one victory from advancing to the World Series. A Rays win would tie the ALCS at two games apiece, leaving both clubs three wins away from the pennant. MLB has Game 5 scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Game 4 and Game 5 are separate games on consecutive dates, so fans following both should check the current schedule before making travel plans or setting recordings.

The pitching choices make the opening innings a key part of the matchup. Martinez gives Tampa Bay a conventional right-handed starter, while Cleveland is planning to use Armstrong first and then build the remaining outs with its bullpen. That contrast is confirmed by MLB’s reports. The article does not establish how long either starter will pitch, which relievers will enter, or what in-game adjustments the managers will make.

Game 4 details at a glance

MLB notes that postseason schedules can change. Before heading to Progressive Field, starting a recording, or signing in to stream, refresh the league’s schedule and Game 4 guide. The confirmed update is an 8:00 p.m. EDT first pitch on Friday in Cleveland, corresponding to 00:00 UTC on Saturday, with Martinez and Armstrong named as the opposing starters.