ST. PETERSBURG -- It’s a new day in the ALCS, as the Rays and Guardians are headed back to Cleveland tied up at 1-1.
The Rays' 3-1 win in Game 2 shifted this series back into focus after the Guardians pulled off a 7-3 come-from-behind win in the opener. We’ve seen each team’s best, and as these pitching staffs get stretched even thinner as the series wears on, they’ll need to lean on the identities they’ve built in 2026.
Progressive Field will be a character in this drama, too, especially after the scenes we saw from the Guardians’ home crowd during their ALDS comeback against the White Sox.
“It’s going to be a challenging place to play,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “We played there not too long ago in the postseason. That's as good an atmosphere as you're going to see. They've got a great fan base that's going to be behind their team. I'd like to think we can carry our momentum into there and just play good baseball for Game 3.”
Step back a few feet for a wider view, and this Guardians team has still won four of its past five games. The club ran into a Game 2 buzzsaw named Freddy Peralta, whose fastball was nearly unhittable, but Cleveland is still in an excellent spot after stealing Game 1.
“We feel great. Obviously we would have loved to have taken [Game 2],” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “That would have been really big. And we had our position and our opportunities to do that. But going home 1-1, to go have three games in front of our fans in Cleveland, we feel really good about that. And we're excited to get it going.”
The pitching matchup has the potential to lean in the Guardians’ favor, too, with Gavin Williams lining up as an option on regular rest, fresh off a dominant outing against the White Sox to clinch the ALDS. For the Rays, Griffin Jax has been officially named the starter, and while he spent the majority of the season working in a true starter’s role, he pitched two innings of relief against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS, throwing just 32 pitches.
This series is still waiting for its first show-stopping moment, too, with all eyes on José Ramírez for the Guardians and Junior Caminero for the Rays. Ramírez's series has been up-and-down so far, from a solid Game 1 to a crucial error that opened the door in Game 2, while Caminero is still searching for his first career postseason home run.
There’s history on the line here, too, for whichever team advances to represent the American League in the World Series. The Rays haven’t won the World Series since entering the league in 1998 and have only reached the big stage twice (2008, 2020). The Guardians, on the other hand, still carry the weight of the longest World Series drought in the big leagues at 77 seasons, stretching all the way back to 1948.
When is the game and how can I watch it
First pitch for Game 3 of the Rays-Guardians American League Championship Series is set for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday at Progressive Field. The game will be broadcast on TBS and HBO Max.
Spanish-language game broadcasts will be available on UniMas for the ALCS, and Spanish-language radio broadcasts will be available on Univision’s TUDN Radio.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Guardians: Likely Gavin Williams, RHP
Key Stats: 1.54 ERA, 24 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in ALDS
Vogt has not announced his Game 3 starter, as the Guardians want to see how guys are feeling coming out of the first two games of this series. Assuming he’s ready physically, it figures to be Williams. The 27-year-old will be on normal rest following his heroic performance in the ALDS, when he made two starts and an emergency relief appearance against the White Sox. After he recorded the final three outs of Game 4, Williams came back on one day’s rest in Game 5 and tied a franchise postseason record in strikeouts (12) to help Cleveland beat Chicago, 2-0, to advance.
Rays: Griffin Jax, RHP
Key Stats: 0.90 ERA over his past five appearances
Nick Martinez started ALDS Game 3 for the Rays, but they will turn to Jax this time after using him as a reliever against the Yankees. Jax has been excellent since a rough return from the injured list on Sept. 2 after a bout of right elbow discomfort, permitting only two runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out 19 in 20 innings over his last four regular-season starts and his Game 3 relief outing at Yankee Stadium. Jax is presumably prepared for Cleveland’s inclement weather, having pitched for Minnesota for most of his career, and he’s put up impressive numbers (including a 2.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20 strikeouts) in 13 relief appearances at Progressive Field.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Guardians: One way or another, Patrick Bailey will be back behind the plate in Game 3. He and Williams have been a customary battery this season, and Bailey is swinging a hot bat this postseason. The Guards will otherwise likely stick to the standard lineup they’ve had this series.
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
Rays: With Williams on the mound, the Rays should be able to use their standard lineup against right-handers, with the “Big Three” followed by Liam Hicks and their other left-handed hitters. The main question is whether they’ll stick with Jonny DeLuca, who’s started every postseason game so far, over Cedric Mullins in center field.
1. Yandy Díaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Liam Hicks, C
5. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
6. Chandler Simpson, LF
7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Guardians: Vogt will have a full bullpen at his disposal after the off-day, and will work getting the ball to closer Cade Smith. He and Hunter Gaddis did not appear in Game 2, after both pitched in each of the Guardians’ first six contests this postseason. Setup man Erik Sabrowski also did not pitch in Game 2 and will be working off two days’ rest.
Rays: The Rays should be in good shape after Wednesday’s off-day, although this will be the first time since the regular season that they’ve played three consecutive days in a row. Left-hander Ian Seymour has clearly established himself as a top setup option in front of closer Bryan Baker, and lefty Cam Booser has also been tasked with getting big outs against left-handed hitters. Right-hander Kevin Kelly and Tyler Wells are also setup options in front of Baker, who has recorded the save in each of Tampa Bay’s four wins this postseason.
Any injuries of note?
Guardians: None.
Rays: Caminero and DeLuca said they were fine after a nasty collision while chasing a foul ball in Game 1. Left-hander Shane McClanahan, who finished the regular season on the injured list due to left forearm tightness, was shut down for the rest of the postseason, Cash said on Sunday. Otherwise, nothing new.
Who is hot and who is not?
Guardians: Shawn Armstrong has allowed just one hit and struck out five batters in 5 1/3 scoreless innings over four postseason appearances. It’s been an impressive comeback after he missed two months with a left calf strain, before returning the final week of the regular season. DeLauter is hitting .346 (9-for-26) with just one strikeout in seven postseason games.
Rocchio is hitting .091 (2-for-22) in seven games.
Rays: Pretty much everyone who touched the mound for Tampa Bay in the ALDS and Game 2 of this series performed well, which is certainly promising for the team moving forward, even after some shaky bullpen work in Game 1. The Rays are starting to find some rhythm at the plate, too, with Caminero leading the way despite not yet having the big moment everyone’s expecting. Hicks drove in a couple runs in Game 2, and DeLuca had his second straight multihit game. Díaz is just 5-for-21 in the playoffs, and Mesa is only 3-for-18.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell will throw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3.
• With his fifth-inning single in Game 2, Ramírez moved into second place in franchise history in postseason hits (49), breaking a tie with Kenny Lofton. Omar Vizquel (57) ranks first.
• Game 2 of the ALCS was Díaz’s 30th postseason game with the Rays, matching Evan Longoria for the most in franchise history. Game 3 should give Tampa Bay’s DH the club record.
• The Rays are 89-0 this year, including the regular season and postseason, when leading after eight innings. The last team to go a full year with a 1.000 winning percentage and at least 89 wins when leading after eight innings? The 2022 Mets, who went 90-0. The last team to do so in the AL was the 2002 Athletics (93-0).