Guardians try to push the Rays to the brink in ALCS Game 4 as rain hangs over Cleveland

Cleveland is two wins away from the World Series. The only question is when it gets to play Game 4.

The Guardians lead the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 in the American League Championship Series after a 3-2 win on Thursday. Game 4 is set for Friday night at Progressive Field but more rain is in the forecast and league officials are working on backup plans in case it is postponed. Game 3 was already moved up five hours on Thursday to get ahead of the weather.

The rookie with the bat flip

Petey Halpin is the talk of Cleveland. The 24-year-old rookie hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning on Thursday that put the Guardians ahead for good. He sent his bat flying high into the air and the crowd chanted his name every time he came up after that.

Halpin is 4 for 11 since moving into the lineup for the win-or-go-home ALDS Game 5 against the Chicago White Sox. "We feed off the crowd, feed off the energy," Halpin said. "It's great."

Closer Cade Smith joked that the bat flip was "maybe a little much" but said the whole dugout loved the moment.

Who pitches?

Neither manager would name a starter. Rays skipper Kevin Cash said he expects "a pretty rain-filled day." Tampa Bay did bring right-hander Nick Martinez to the podium after Game 3, a spot usually saved for the next day's starter. Martinez, 36, went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA this season. He threw 13 scoreless innings in two starts against Cleveland and allowed just seven hits.

"Whatever the team needs, I'm up for it," Martinez said.

Cleveland is expected to piece together a bullpen game with Joey Cantillo, Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi among the options. If the game slides to Saturday, Foster Griffin could start on normal rest. "Our guys are ready to go at all times," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "Whatever time, whatever place."

Tampa Bay needs runs

The Rays' top three hitters went a combined 1 for 12 on Thursday. Star third baseman Junior Caminero went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. "We just have to make adjustments and go from there," Caminero said through an interpreter.

What's at stake

This is the fourth time Cleveland has led an ALCS 2-1. It won the 1997 series against Baltimore and lost in 1998 to the Yankees and in 2007 to Boston. The Rays have never trailed 2-1 in an ALCS before. The next two games are in Cleveland. The winner faces the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.