Sports · Baseball · 4 hrs ago
Rays and Guardians open AL Championship Series
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians are starting a best-of-seven American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay won 98 regular-season games and swept the New York Yankees in its division series.
Cleveland won 85 games, then came back from an 0-2 deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox in a five-game series.
Both teams focus on pitching, defense, contact hitting and speed rather than relying mainly on home runs.
Their payrolls were among the lowest in Major League Baseball, with Cleveland spending less than Tampa Bay.
Drew Rasmussen starts for the Rays after a strong outing against New York, while Foster Griffin starts for Cleveland.
The winner will advance toward a league pennant, and the series begins Monday night.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians are set to open a best-of-seven American League Championship Series on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay won an American League-best 98 games and swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series.
Cleveland won 85 games and advanced after overcoming an 0-2 deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-five Division Series.
Drew Rasmussen is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay, with Foster Griffin starting for Cleveland.
Both teams emphasize contact hitting, speed, defense and pitching.
- Who
- The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians.
- What
- They are opening a best-of-seven American League Championship Series.
- When
- Monday night; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.
- Why
- The teams are competing for the American League pennant.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
But we’re here. The guys are excited. We’re prepared. We’re ready to go. We’re playing some really good baseball right now.
I do think there’s more similarities than not
I could really care less where people would rank me
Cleveland worked out after beating the Chicago White Sox in Game 5 of its Division Series.
The Rays and Guardians are scheduled to open the AL Championship Series at Tropicana Field.
- Rays regular-season wins
- 98
- Guardians regular-season wins
- 85
- Rays starting pitcher
- Drew Rasmussen
- Guardians starting pitcher
- Foster Griffin
- Rays ALDS result
- Swept the New York Yankees
- Guardians ALDS result
- Overcame an 0-2 deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-five series
Sources
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