Monday, October 19, 2026 • 8:00 PM ET
Cleveland Guardians (2-3) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3-2)
Tropicana Field • St. Petersburg, FL
RHP Shawn Armstrong  (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (1-0, 0.079 ERA)
TBS/HBO Max

With the Brewers set to represent the National League in the 2026 World Series, the Rays are a win away from representing the American League for the first time since 2020. However, this series has shown that nothing is given, and everything is earned. Unlike the Brewers’ 1-2-3-4 clean sweep of the Dodgers, the Guardians and Rays have exchanged back-and-forth blows, with both teams looking like they can walk away as AL pennant winners.

However, Sunday night showed the Rays might have the edge, as ace Drew Rasmussen shoved seven innings of one-run ball, striking out six. His 1.29 postseason ERA and 23 strikeouts (second-best) through 21 innings (MLB-best) go to show he was made for October. Like the Brewers, the Rays played small ball, scoring by working counts, wreaking havoc on the base paths and putting the ball in play. Jonathan Aranda continues to play hero over the past two days, compiling three RBIs and five hits in Games 4 and 5 combined.

Rookie Chase DeLauter continues to shine in October for the Guardians, plating the only run for Cleveland in Sunday’s Game 5 loss. The 25-year-old is 11-for-37 this postseason with six RBIs and an .813 OPS.

Via MLB

Guardians Lineup

  1. Steven Kwan LF
  2. José Ramírez, 3B
  3. Chase DeLauter, RF
  4. Jo Adell, DH
  5. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
  6. Travis Bazzana, 2B
  7. Patrick Bailey, C
  8. Petey Halpin, CF
  9. Brayan Rocchio, SS

SP/Opener: Shawn Armstrong

Rays Lineup

  1. Yandy Díaz, DH
  2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
  3. Liam Hicks, C
  4. Junior Caminero, 3B
  5. Chandler Simpson, LF
  6. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
  7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
  8. Richie Palacios, 2B
  9. Taylor Walls, SS

SP: Freddy Peralta