The Tampa Bay Rays, now up 3-2 in the ALCS, clinched a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians thanks to former Orioles relievers Tyler Wells and Bryan Baker. Wells struck out future Hall of Famer José Ramírez in the eighth, while Baker secured his 34th straight save in the ninth, a turnaround from his erratic stint in Baltimore before the July 2025 trade. The piece notes the irony for O’s fans as several ex‑Birds, including Cedric Mullins, Jorge Mateo, and former prospect Gary Sánchez, shine in postseason runs that Baltimore still lacks.
Regardless of how the Guardians-Rays ALCS turns out, the 2026 World Series winner will have a sub-$150 million payroll.
The Tampa Bay Rays have one of baseball's brightest young stars in slugger Junior Caminero, but he could have been playing on the other side of their ALCS matchup with the Cleveland Guardians.
Tampa Bay has a 3-2 lead in the ALCS and is heading home to finish it off. It has been a very good series for both teams so far and is tough to see it end either way. Though both are probably getting steamrolled by Milwaukee. On to the links. Phillies news: MLB news:
The Tampa Bay Rays lead the ALCS 3-2 after clinching Game 5 in Cleveland and now head to Tropicana Field for a must‑win Game 6 against the Guardians, who are forced into a bullpen marathon after a postponed Game 4. Freddy Peralta starts for the Rays, while Cleveland opens with Shawn Armstrong as an opener, having used 21 reliever outs in the previous game. The post previews the matchup, offers a Game 5 recap, a report‑card for closer David Bednar, and features on Sandy Alomar Sr., Yankees long balls, and a Giancarlo Stanton home‑run milestone, plus a mailbag Q&A. The article also teases the Knicks’ season‑opening banner ceremony.
Tampa Bay has home field, momentum, and most importantly, a starter.
The post ALCS Game 6 Preview: The Rays, One Away appeared first on Baseball Prospectus .
Every game has a winner, but that doesn't mean all games are equal in value.
The post Rays, Guardians Play Good Baseball Game appeared first on Baseball Prospectus .
The Tampa Bay Rays are being pushed to their limit by the Cleveland Guardians. Nonetheless, over the past two days, the Rays have shown why they were the best team in the AL this past season. After falling down 2-1 in the ALCS, the Rays have bounced back with two consecutive victories on the road […]
The post Rays on the verge of ensuring ultra-rare World Series phenomenon appeared first on ClutchPoints .
While Tampa Bay chased Cleveland's ace after just two frames, Drew Rasmussen delivered seven strong innings to move the Rays within one win of the AL pennant.
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Chandler Simpson, the 25-year-old Tampa Bay Rays outfielder, swiped an AL-best 46 bags and hit .306 without a single homer in 2026. One running grab in the American League Championship Series showed how badly Cleveland wants him gone. He proved it in Game 5 at Progressive Field, when Simpson pursued a slicing foul pop-up near […]
The post “You Fu*** S**”: Rays’ 25YO Star Gets an Unfiltered Taste of Cleveland as Hot Mic Catches Fans’ True Feelings appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Drew Rasmussen fuels the Tampa Bay Rays' 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 5, pushing the series lead to 3-2. Rasmussen delivers seven strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits with six strikeouts, while the Rays score in each of the first three innings—Diaz’s walk, Aranda’s single, and Simpson’s run—building a 3-0 cushion. Cleveland’s lone run comes in the sixth, driven in by Steven Kwan. Bryan Baker closes with his fifth postseason save as the Rays, now 98-64, sit one win away from the American League pennant.
The Cleveland Guardians still have high hopes of winning the American League pennant and playing in the World Series. However, their chances absorbed a key blow as they dropped pivotal Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays and now face a 3-2 deficit in the series. OMG ANOTHER WEB GEM FROM STEVEN KWAN 👏 pic.twitter.com/8CWaxhbAyq […]
The post Guardians’ Steven Kwan makes unbelievable HR robbery in ALCS Game 2 vs. Rays appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Tampa Bay Rays can taste a third World Series appearance. Tampa took down the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 to claim the Game 5 win of the ALCS Sunday. And the win sparked a confident Yandy Diaz postgame. Diaz fired off this bold guarantee via Rays insider for The Tampa Bay Times Marc Topkin. “It’s a […]
The post Yandy Diaz’s bold Game 6 Rays guarantee vs. Guardians — ‘It all ends tomorrow’ appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The entire weekend has been an emotional rollercoaster for the team as well as the fanbase. Tampa Bay went into Friday down two games to one after Cleveland’s pitchers neutralized the big three bats. The miserable weather matched the emotions of many fans, but the sun came out figurately as well as literally on Saturday […]
The Tampa Bay Rays are one game away from making the World Series after beating the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in Game 5 of the ALCS on Sunday night. Tampa Bay flourished as one of the best squads in the American League. Topping their division, they got a bye to the ALDS. They took care of […]
The post Rays a win closer to World Series after ALCS Game 5 win vs. Guardians appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from reaching the World Series.
It’s a pivotal game 5 in Cleveland. Here are the Rays starters. Here are the Guardians starters. Who are you rooting for to take on the Brewers?
Game 5 of the ALCS pits the Tampa Bay Rays against the Cleveland Guardians as the series deadlocks at 2-2. The decisive matchup returns to Progressive Field, where the Guardians aim to seize a home‑field advantage and force a trip to Tampa, while the Rays look to complete their comeback and keep pennant hopes alive. Fans are encouraged to join the live discussion and share their reactions.
The ALCS is tied 2-2 as the Tampa Bay Rays host the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 at Tropicana Field. After a tight contest, the Rays surged in the later innings while Cleveland’s bullpen faltered, allowing runs from five different pitchers and committing two errors, one leading to an unearned run. Starter Drew Rasmussen, who pitched six innings with two runs in Game 1, faces Guardians’ pitcher Patrick Messick, who gave up three unearned runs in five innings of Game 2. No off‑day follows due to Friday’s rainout, and both squads will fly back to Florida for Game 6 the next night. The article lists each team’s full lineup.
The ALCS has turned into a best‑of‑three wild‑card showdown as the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians split the first two games. The Rays, now holding home‑field advantage, aim to win Game 4 at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 17, while the Guardians, despite a higher OPS (+0.088), trail by a run (29‑28) and have managed only three RISP hits across games 2‑4. A rainout eliminates a rest day, setting up a decisive Game 6 in Florida tomorrow night, with the World Series berth hanging in the balance.
The ALCS reaches a pivotal Game 5 as the Tampa Bay Rays face the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 15, 2026. With the series tied 2-2, the winner historically claims the series about 65% of the time. Both teams announce their lineups, featuring Rays' DH Yandy Diaz and Guardians' LF Steven Kwan, among other starters. The game proceeds in mild 16 °C weather, and the series continues with games scheduled for the following two days. The post also notes a tragic fire in Wainwright, expressing condolences.
It’s pivotal game 5 Sunday as the Guardians and Rays clash again in Cleveland. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen while the Guardians will give the ball to Parker Messick. First pitch is set for 4pm at Progressive Field and the game broadcast is available via Fox/FS1.
On October 17, the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians face off in Game 5 of the 2026 ALCS at Progressive Field, with the series tied 2-2. Rays right‑hander Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.29 ERA) seeks to build on his postseason dominance, while Guardians left‑hander Parker Messick (0-2, 3.09 ERA) looks to rebound after a strong start in Game 1. A win for Tampa Bay would give them the edge heading back to Florida, while Cleveland fights to avoid elimination. The game streams on TBS/HBO Max and begins at 3:08 PM MDT.
Follow the live stats from the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS.
Go Rays!