Sports · Baseball · 2 hrs ago
Rays and Guardians meet in the ALCS after dramatic division series wins
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians are set to face each other in the American League Championship Series, which decides who advances to the World Series.
Tampa Bay won 98 games, took the AL East title and swept the Yankees in its Division Series.
Cleveland finished 85-77, edged the White Sox for the AL Central title and came back from losing the first two games at home to win their Division Series.
The Guardians’ pitchers struck out 21 batters in the deciding game, while José Ramírez hit home runs in both of Cleveland’s final two wins.
The matchup brings together two of baseball’s lowest-spending teams: the Rays had a $90 million payroll and the Guardians $87 million.
Both clubs rely on analytical decision-making, but Cleveland has built more around homegrown players, while Tampa Bay has used trades to shape its roster.
The ALCS winner will advance to the World Series.
The Tampa Bay Rays will face the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series after both teams won their Division Series.
The Rays swept the New York Yankees in three games, earning their first postseason series victory since 2020.
The Guardians rallied from two losses at home to win three straight elimination games against the Chicago White Sox.
Tampa Bay won an American League-high 98 games and its first AL East title since 2021.
Cleveland finished 85-77, one game ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central.
- Who
- The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians.
- What
- They will meet in the American League Championship Series after winning their Division Series.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The Rays swept the Yankees, while the Guardians came back to beat the White Sox.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The Rays swept the Yankees in three games.
Cleveland lost both games at home to the White Sox.
The Guardians won three straight elimination games to take the series.
- Rays regular-season record
- 98 wins
- Rays division title
- First AL East title since 2021
- Rays Division Series
- Swept the Yankees in three games
- Guardians regular-season record
- 85-77
- Guardians Division Series
- Won three straight elimination games against the White Sox
Sources
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