CLEVELAND, OH — Just like everyone had it drawn up back in March during Spring Training, the Cleveland Guardians are two wins away from clinching the American League pennant and going to the World Series.
With Cleveland successfully guarding their home turf Thursday afternoon and defeating the Rays, 3-2, in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field, the Guardians now hold a commanding 2-1 lead over Tampa Bay in this best of seven ALCS.
The Guardians take ALCS Game 3 at home! pic.twitter.com/wO649uGy1y
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
Just another example of baseball in October.
And by that, meaning expect the unexpected.
If one was to rewind to March, yes, many out there would perhaps have Cleveland, regardless of their $74.2 million payroll, the lowest of any MLB team this year, circled in to play October baseball.
But not this, as the winner of Game 3 in a best of seven series after it’s nodded up at one has gone on to win the series 71 of 102 times (69.6%), including 13 of 18 times (72.2%) in the ALCS.
Stood Guard in Game 3 😤 pic.twitter.com/6piuF9bcQd
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
On that same note—expecting the unexpected—one of the least expected Guardians to change the complexion of a postseason game leading up to this October was Cleveland’s rookie center fielder Petey Halpin.
A 24-year-old out of San Mateo, California, who made his MLB debut in September of 2025 and hit four home runs this season over 83 games.
Yet, he did in ALCS Game 3 on a go-ahead fifth inning two-run home run for his first career postseason HR. Changing the complexion of the game was that rookie Halpin.
Flipping his bat in the process, too, while 30,101 in attendance flipped Progressive Field upside down.
PETEY HALPIN!
GUARDIANS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/IGTS1y8p8T
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
An epic bat flip, maybe too much in the moment, but then again, that’s baseball in October.
“The pure excitement of being in that moment and just having that moment in my career, I just kind of blacked out,” Halpin said of the bat flip on his clutch 385 foot two-run HR that landed in the first row in right center field.
“It just happened.”
This place is juiced up. 🧃#GuardsBall | #StandGuard pic.twitter.com/zxSkw6EwQG
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 15, 2026
Said second baseman Travis Bazzana, high-fiving every Guardian he could spot in Cleveland’s dugout once Halpin had connected on a 2-2 96-MPH sinker from Tampa Bay’s RHP Griffin Jax:
“I was just fired up, jumping around and screaming his name. The bat flip was cool because he knew it was a big go-ahead shot and that’s one he’ll remember forever.”
Looking Ahead to Game 4 of ALCS
As the Guardians hold a 2-1 advantage in this best of seven ALCS over Tampa Bay, and the next two games going down in Cleveland, Game 4, scheduled for Friday, October 16th at 6:08pm ET, is next up.
With Cleveland’s Game 3 ALCS win Thursday afternoon over Tampa Bay to go up 2-1, the Guardians are now two wins away from appearing in the franchise’s first World Series since 2016 and sixth Fall Classic ever – Image Credit: Major League Baseball
Mother nature though may play a factor in it all since rain is projected in Friday’s weather forecast across northeast Ohio for the majority of the day and night.
“Obviously, with everything up in the air for tomorrow, we’re going to be prepared to play whatever time, whatever place,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “Our guys stay ready.”
If MLB were to decide on a postponement Friday, Game 4 of the ALCS would then be moved to Saturday, October 17th, followed by Game 5 taking place Sunday, October 18th.
Any guesses on potential first pitch times given the circumstances are as good as ours.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Twitter: @latinosports
TikTok: @latino.sports
Facebook: Latino Sports
