The ALCS starts Monday, and it will be a matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians.
The ALCS is a seven-game series, split two-three-two between the home and away teams. The series will run Monday, October 12, through, potentially, Tuesday, October 20.
Let’s take a look at some key storylines and players to keep an eye on during the 2026 ALCS.
The Tampa Bay Rays come off what was definitely the most lopsided of the four divisional series. They swept the Yankees in three, taking the first two at the Trop before clinching at Yankee Stadium. Though two of the games were decided by just one run, it never felt that close, as the Rays never trailed in the series, which is impressive considering the Yankees were the second-best team in the AL in the regular season. They got ahead early, and then let their pitching staff go to work against a New York lineup that, outside of Ben Rice, was floundering a little at the plate.
Cleveland did the opposite of Tampa Bay and took their series to five games after dropping the first two at home to the White Sox. They went on to win the next two in Chicago, before clinching at home in front of the Cleveland faithful. They were able to find a groove on offense against a White Sox pitching staff that looked like it started to run out of gas after a postseason without any defined roles. The pitching staff for the Guardians, on the other hand, was dominant, recording an incredible amount of strikeouts against the free-swinging White Sox.
Outlook
The Rays were 5-1 against the Guardians in the regular season. They won two out of three in Cleveland in April, before sweeping them in Tampa late in July. The Guardians are currently playing some of their best baseball of the season, but it may not be enough against a Rays team that is very well-rested and very good.
Aranda opened the scoring in the divisional series, sending a Gerrit Cole changeup into the seats. That would also be the only run scored in game one, as the Rays held the Yankees scoreless. He has been an under-the-radar contributor for them all year.
Fans in Tampa have started referring to the outfielder as “Midnight” Jonny DeLuca. He has really come through in big moments, usually providing a spark at the bottom of the Tampa Bay lineup.
Rasmussen had one of the most dominant postseason pitching performances that we’ve seen in years. He allowed only one hit over eight scoreless innings while fanning 10 Yankees in game one. He is almost certain to start game one against the Guardians, and that start will be must-see TV.
The only overlap from our “players to watch” in the DS is Jose Ramirez. That is because when Ramirez goes, the Guardians go. He went in the DS, and if he continues to play well in the CS, the Rays will have some trouble brewing.
Halpin, much like DeLuca of the Rays, has been one of the names at the bottom of the lineup who has consistently come through when his team needs him. He didn’t have a hit in the series until the deciding game, where he went two-for-three.
Gavin Williams has turned into one of the best strikeout artists in all of baseball. He struck out 24 batters in his two starts and a relief appearance during the DS. Clearly Stephen Vogt trusts him enough to even bring him out of the pen in high-leverage moments.
The White Sox struck out 53 times in the three games that they lost to the Guardians. Chicago had a penchant for high strikeout numbers all season, but that doesn’t take away from the fuel coming from the Guardians’ arms. The Rays need to play the game that they have played all season, and that is contact-oriented. They struck out the least of any team in the major leagues, so it will be power on power this series, with the contact of the Rays vs. the arm talent of the Guardians.
The offense finally woke up for the Guardians in the playoffs against the White Sox. They have had a hard time staying consistent over the 162-game regular season, but it’s starting to click at the right time. That, unsurprisingly, coincides with the resurgent Jose Ramirez, who has found his swing after scuffling all season long when he wasn’t on the injured list.
Probables are based on rotation usage if currently TBD
TB – Drew Rasmussen
CLE – Foster Griffin
TB – Freddy Peralta
CLE – Parker Messick
TB – Nick Martinez
CLE – Gavin Williams
TB – Griffin Jax
CLE – Tanner Bibee
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