It will take at least six games to crown an American League champion.
The Tampa Bay Rays tied the ALCS at two games apiece, winning Game 4 over the Cleveland Guardians 7-3.
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The Guardians got on the board early, as Chase DeLauter drove in Steven Kwan with an RBI single in the first. But Cleveland’s offense was quiet after that.
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Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a play during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay got the run back with a two-out rally in the third — Yandy Diaz doubled, and then Jonathan Aranda drove him in to tie the game. In the sixth inning, Junior Caminero smoked an RBI double with runners on first and second and none out to give the Rays a 2-1 lead, but they squandered an opportunity to tack on more.
The Rays began the next frame with runners on second and third, no outs and the top of their order at the plate. Diaz struck out, but Aranda brought both of the runs in to give Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead. He would score on a sac fly two batters later.
Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to an RBI single in the third inning during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Cleveland was able to cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the frame and even got the lead run to the plate but couldn’t take full advantage. In the top of the ninth, Diaz added some huge insurance runs with a two-out, two-run jack that DeLauter just missed robbing.
Any lead is comfortable for All-Star closer Bryan Baker, but four runs was a walk in the park. He got a double play after a leadoff single, and he struck out Angel Martinez to end the game.
No team has won back-to-back games this series.
The series was postponed due to weather on Friday night, pushing both Games 4 and 5 back one day each. Game 6 will be played on Monday as normally scheduled, but there are no more scheduled off days this series.
Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Game 5 is Sunday at 5:08 p.m. ET.
