The American League’s two top seeds are set for a best-of-seven collision at Tropicana Field, where the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays open the AL Championship Series on Monday night. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, with the Rays carrying home-field advantage after winning the AL East and the Guardians arriving after a hard five-game Division Series against the White Sox.
Cleveland turns to Griffin for Game 1
Stephen Vogt handed the ball to left-hander Griffin for the series opener, giving the trade-deadline acquisition his biggest assignment since joining Cleveland from Washington on Aug. 3. The Guardians want innings from him after their bullpen was asked to cover plenty of ground during the ALDS.
- Game 1, Monday: LHP Griffin
- Game 2, Tuesday: To be determined, with LHP Parker Messick a leading possibility
- Game 3, Thursday in Cleveland: To be determined, with RHP Gavin Williams the expected choice
Griffin has not started since Sept. 23, when he gave up one run on 10 hits and struck out seven Red Sox at Fenway Park. He worked from the bullpen in the Division Series, and his one appearance mattered: 2 2/3 innings, one run allowed and seven strikeouts in Cleveland’s 9-3 Game 3 win.
His regular-season work with the Guardians was uneven after the deal, as he posted a 5.19 ERA across 43 1/3 innings in nine starts. Still, Cleveland saw the upside when it acquired him. Griffin had been an All-Star for the Nationals, owning a 3.06 ERA over 129 1/3 innings and 22 starts.
Messick’s workload shapes the next decision
The Guardians had the luxury of lining up their starters for the Division Series after earning a first-round bye as AL Central champions. That advantage is gone now. Four games are scheduled over five days, and Cleveland will need more than the three starters it used against Chicago: Messick, Williams and Daniel Espino, who opened a game.
Messick would be available on normal rest for Tuesday, but the club has reason to weigh an extra day or two. In Game 4 against the White Sox, the rookie needed 65 pitches to get through 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks.
- Messick has logged 193 innings between the regular season and postseason.
- His previous career high was 138 1/3 innings, accumulated between the Majors and Minors in 2025.
- Cleveland can also consider Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo or Espino as it settles its plans beyond Game 1.
If Messick comes through the workout period feeling strong, he remains the natural Game 2 candidate. He emerged as an AL Cy Young Award contender during the regular season, and the Guardians will need that kind of presence if they are to survive a series with few breaks in the schedule.
Williams appears lined up for Game 3, when the series shifts to Cleveland on Thursday. He would be working on normal rest and with three additional days between appearances compared with his short turnaround in the Division Series. Williams came out of the bullpen in an emergency role during Game 4, then started Game 5 two days later and matched the franchise postseason record with 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 clinching victory.
Rays have their ace ready at Tropicana Field
Tampa Bay’s path is cleaner at the top. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1, a decision that barely required a meeting. He has been the Rays’ ace, and Tampa Bay has not lost a game he started since the All-Star break.
Rasmussen finished the regular season in strong form against the Yankees, then raised the bar in the Division Series opener at Tropicana Field. He held New York without a hit into the eighth inning. The Guardians now get the next look at a pitcher who has carried the Rays’ rotation through the season’s biggest moments.
- Game 1, Monday: RHP Drew Rasmussen
- Game 2: To be determined, likely RHP Freddy Peralta
- Game 3: To be determined, possibly RHP Nick Martinez
The Rays relied heavily on the five pitchers in their season-ending rotation during the ALDS, but this round presents a tighter calendar. Tampa Bay is likely to use four starters for much of the series, with another rotation arm available in relief before potentially returning to a starting assignment later.
Peralta and Martinez offer Tampa Bay options
Peralta is the likely choice to follow Rasmussen before the series moves north. Since arriving from the Mets at the trade deadline, he has found his footing after an unsteady start to the year. His fastball had extra life during his postseason outing against the Yankees, a sign that the October stage has brought out more from “Fastball Freddy.”
Martinez is another candidate for the third game. The veteran started Game 3 of the ALDS and allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings, giving Tampa Bay a chance while Seymour and Jax were prepared behind him and the bullpen was fully rested. Martinez’s road work during the season was exceptional, and his experience remains valuable as the series enters its only three-game stretch without an off-day.
The Rays will proceed without Shane McClanahan, who has been shut down for the season because of left forearm tightness. That puts even more attention on Rasmussen, Peralta, Martinez and the remaining rotation options as Tampa Bay tries to turn its regular-season advantage into an American League pennant.
