Guardians, Rays Set for Crucial ALCS Game 2 in Tampa Bay

The Guardians took the first punch of the American League Championship Series in Tampa Bay, turning a tight game into a 7-3 Game 1 victory and putting the Rays in an early hole at Tropicana Field. Cleveland’s bullpen kept the door open behind Foster Griffin, then Chase DeLauter and Patrick Bailey supplied the late power. Now the Rays hand Game 2 to Freddy Peralta with the series still in St. Petersburg before it shifts to Cleveland.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field, with TBS, truTV and HBO Max carrying the telecast. UniMas will air the Spanish-language broadcast, while TUDN Radio will have Spanish-language radio coverage.

Game 2 pitching matchup

Messick gets a homecoming assignment of sorts. The left-hander grew up in Plant City, Florida, and spent time at Tropicana Field as a kid. He expects plenty of family and friends to be in the building as he tries to push Cleveland within two wins of the World Series.

His regular-season work at the Trop offers a useful memory, too: on July 26, Messick limited Tampa Bay to one run on six hits and struck out six across 7 2/3 innings. He has also been one of Cleveland’s steadiest arms down the stretch, posting a 5-0 record and a 0.93 ERA over his last seven starts since Aug. 26.

The rookie has had uneven work against the White Sox this October. He allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings in his better ALDS start, then lasted only 2 1/3 innings in Game 4 after matching his career high with four walks. Messick said before the opener that he feels physically sound, and Cleveland will need that version of him with a rested bullpen behind him.

Peralta enters with a different kind of urgency. Tampa Bay acquired the veteran at the Trade Deadline from the Mets, and he has quickly become one of the club’s key stories. He did not reach five innings against the Yankees in the Division Series, but the outing was effective: one run, three hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

His four-seam fastball was particularly lively in that start. Peralta threw it 65 percent of the time, and its average velocity climbed from 94.3 mph to 96.8 mph. The Rays have not named a Game 3 starter and are not expected to settle that question until Wednesday’s off-day in Cleveland.

Cleveland’s pressure starts with Ramírez

The Guardians’ Game 1 offense showed more punch than many expected in a series built around pitching and late-game leverage. DeLauter and Bailey went deep, but Cleveland’s lineup still moves around José Ramírez. The third baseman has driven in a run in four consecutive postseason games, matching the longest RBI streak in club playoff history, previously reached by Jim Thome from 1998-99 and Sandy Alomar in 1997.

“José is our guy,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “When he gets on base, he makes things happen.” Vogt pointed to the pressure Ramírez creates: defenders must account for him, and pitchers have to work faster with him aboard.

Vogt is expected to keep most of the Game 1 alignment intact, with Austin Hedges likely taking over behind the plate as Messick’s familiar catcher. Bailey is swinging a hot bat, but Hedges has been Messick’s usual battery mate throughout the season.

Angel Martínez could return to the lineup after sitting the previous two days, though his recent October struggles may make him more valuable off the bench. His ninth-inning single in Game 1 snapped an 0-for-16 postseason skid that included nine strikeouts. Against Peralta, Vogt may prefer to hold Martínez for a left-on-left matchup after the Tampa Bay starter exits.

Rays need more traffic at the plate

Tampa Bay’s top of the order will be under the brightest light after the Game 1 loss. Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero are central to the response, with the Rays needing more production throughout a lineup that has not consistently carried over its Division Series pitching success.

Aranda was Tampa Bay’s best hitter against the Yankees but went hitless in the ALCS opener. Caminero drove in a run with a single in Game 1, though the Rays are still waiting for the kind of defining October swing he can provide. Cedric Mullins, Victor Mesa Jr. and Ryan Vilade have each homered this postseason, but Tampa Bay needs contributions beyond those isolated shots.

The Rays started a right-handed-heavy group against lefty Foster Griffin in Game 1. Messick is also a left-hander, but his changeup was especially effective against right-handed hitters during the regular season. That could lead Tampa Bay to include more left-handed options and force Messick to show more than one look.

Manager Kevin Cash saw a much closer contest than the final four-run margin suggested. He called Cleveland a very good club and said this series is likely to turn on a single swing, a major pitch or one defensive play. The Rays, he said, felt several times like they were one hit away from changing the Game 1 picture.

Caminero and DeLauter both reported feeling fine after their hard collision while chasing a foul ball in the opener. Tampa Bay does have one significant pitching absence: left-hander Shane McClanahan, who finished the regular season on the injured list with left forearm tightness, has been shut down for the remainder of the postseason.

Relief options and the broader October picture

Cleveland has an off-day waiting after Game 2, giving Vogt flexibility if Messick’s night is brief. Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, closer Cade Smith and left-hander Tim Herrin should all be ready. Smith needed just six pitches for a clean ninth inning in Game 1.

Tampa Bay’s bullpen remains largely fresh, although right-hander Cole Sulser is the likely exception after throwing 27 pitches Monday. Ian Seymour may also be a limited option after working most of the year as a starter. Nobody else in the Rays bullpen threw more than nine pitches in the opener. Closer Bryan Baker saved all three ALDS wins but was not required in Game 1.

Before first pitch, former Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will throw the ceremonial first ball. Kiermaier was part of Tampa Bay’s 2020 American League championship club.

The Rays have reached 101 combined regular-season and postseason wins, tying the 2021 club for second-most in franchise history. The 2008 Rays won 105 overall. Tampa Bay, in the majors since 1998, is still seeking its first World Series title. Cleveland has not won a championship since 1948, the longest drought in Major League Baseball.

The Guardians have won three of their six prior ALCS trips, advancing in 1995, 1997 and 2016 while falling in 1998, 2007 and 2024. One game into this matchup, they have the edge. The Rays have Peralta, their home crowd and a chance to make sure the flight north does not come with a two-game deficit.