The American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians promises to be no place for the faint of heart.
Tampa Bay’s sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series wasn’t generally anticipated. Cleveland’s comeback—down two games to the Chicago White Sox, then winning three straight, including a 2–0 victory Saturday night—could never have been predicted.
Given that Tampa Bay won five out of the six games played during the 2026 regular season with the Guardians, this could indicate a pending dominance in the ALCS by the Rays. Maybe in another October, this theory would hold strong. But after the power surge in both pitching and in the batter’s box demonstrated by Cleveland, particularly from their third baseman Jose Ramirez against the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, whatever history exists between the Guardians and Rays this season can be thrown out.
The best-of-seven series for a trip to the World Series gets underway on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in St. Petersburg at the domed Tropicana Field.
Cleveland, who won the AL Central Division by one game ahead of the White Sox, were down two games to none in the best-of-five series with Chicago. After being faced with three consecutive elimination games, the Guardians quickly became acquainted with the pressures of postseason baseball.
In Games 3–5, all Ramirez, a seven-time MLB All-Star, did was carry his club to a series victory. He went 5-for-12 with a double, a triple, two home runs, and seven RBIs. Ramirez’s offensive surge in the ALDS is one that will be talked about for years to come.
Plus, in Saturday’s clincher, Guardians pitchers also put in a performance that, in time, will be remembered right up there with the best ever during any playoff game. Starter Gavin Williams pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and rang up 12 strikeouts. Guardians closer Cade Smith earned the save, after coming in for the game’s final 1.2 innings. Collectively, Cleveland’s four pitchers called upon by manager Stephen Vogt tallied 21 strikeouts.
As was the case in Games 3 and 4, Ramirez provided all the power punch needed to have his club come out ahead in Game 5. In the fourth inning of Saturday’s game, Ramirez unloaded a two-run home run off White Sox starter Sean Burke. Those were the only runs scored by either club.
In the Guardians’ clubhouse after Saturday’s victory, Vogt reminded his club where they have come from and what is left to do this month.
“Backs against the wall, three straight elimination games, and you boys showed up. We posted all year. No one counts us in. We got eight more wins to go,” he said, according to MLB.com.
The Cleveland Guardians pose for a photo on the field after defeating the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 10, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The top of the lineup consists of designated hitter Yandy Diaz, first baseman Jonathan Aranda, and third baseman Junior Caminero. Collectively, the trio slugged 86 round-trippers in 2026. Caminero, with 42, finished tied for fourth among all MLB home run hitters.
The second half of the Rays lineup has players who, as a unit, routinely manufacture runs. Chandler Simpson, who in his two seasons as the Rays left fielder, has swiped 90 bases. Next in the order comes catcher Liam Hicks, right fielder Jonny DeLuca, and second baseman Richie Palacios. As a unit, they create opportunities by bunting, walking, and using their speed to snatch an extra base and reach scoring position.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash has watched his pitchers dominate en route to the ALCS, much as Cleveland’s starters have. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1 on Monday for Tampa Bay. During the regular season, Rasmussen posted a 15–5 record and a 2.67 ERA. In the Rays’ three playoff games against New York, the pitching staff has been lights-out against its opponents as their collective 1.67 ERA indicates. In 27 innings against Yankees batters, Tampa Bay pitchers gave up only 12 hits.
As proud as Cash is of his ace, Vogt was just as complimentary of his top starter Williams after Saturday’s game.
“Honestly, it’s hard to put thoughts together with what Gavin did in this series. Asked him to do something he’s never done and then asking him again to go do something you’ve never done. Pitch two days after you’ve pitched a game, and that was big boy stuff today,” he told reporters.
The Rays and Guardians have proven to be two very difficult opponents in the postseason. Both have a recent history of remaining in games up until the last inning. With Tampa Bay playing home games in a domed ballpark and Cleveland competing outdoors in the coolness of an autumn evening, these are the only noticeable differences between the two clubs. In all likelihood, the ALCS could come down to a costly error, a wild pitch, or base-running blunder. These clubs are that evenly built for October baseball.
