MLB51 min ago2 minute read

Guardians Face Elimination Again as ALCS Moves to Tampa

The Cleveland Guardians trail the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in the ALCS and need a road win on Monday at Tropicana Field to stay alive.

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Backs Against the Wall on the Road

The Cleveland Guardians trail 3-2 in the ALCS following a 3-1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Due to an earlier rainout in Game 3, there is no travel day before Game 6 on Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt remains confident despite the tight schedule. "Let's go. We don't have another choice," Vogt said. "This is when this team thrives."

The Guardians have experience coming back in tough spots. They were 60-65 and 5 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 17 before winning eight of nine games, then finishing September 16-9 to win the AL Central by one game. In the ALDS, Cleveland dropped the first two games at home to the White Sox before winning twice in Chicago and taking Game 5 at home 2-0.

Kwan Delivers Defensively as Pitching Plans Remain Open

Steven Kwan helped keep Cleveland in Sunday's game with two hits and two big defensive plays. He threw out Taylor Walls at home plate in the fourth inning and made a leaping catch at the wall in the eighth. Kwan said the team feels good about facing elimination given their past success on the road.

Cleveland is 47-38 on the road this year including the postseason, compared to a 43-44 record at home. Teams trailing 3-2 in the ALCS have come back to win seven out of 23 times, with Texas doing it in 2023 and Toronto doing it last year.

The Guardians have not announced a starter for Game 6. Foster Griffin could be an option after pitching 3 2/3 innings in Game 4. Vogt ruled out Gavin Williams, who started Game 3 on Thursday. Rookie Parker Messick started Game 5 but went just two innings, giving up two runs on 57 pitches. Messick became the first Cleveland rookie since Charles Nagy in 1991 to reach 200 innings pitched in a season. The Guardians bullpen stepped up after Messick's departure, allowing one run across seven innings.

What it means for the next game

* Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (MLB, Tue, 20 Oct): Tampa Bay Rays win 52%, Cleveland Guardians win 48%; projected score Tampa Bay Rays 4, Cleveland Guardians 3. Our safest pick: Guardians +3.5. Our best value pick: Rays -1.5.

* Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (MLB, Wed, 21 Oct): Tampa Bay Rays win 48%, Cleveland Guardians win 52%; projected score Tampa Bay Rays 4, Cleveland Guardians 4. Our safest pick: Rays +2.5.