Guardians and Rays meet in the 2026 American League Championship Series
- p>The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason features the Cleveland Guardians facing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday, October...
- The Tampa Bay Rays earned an automatic bid to the American League Division Series and swept the New York Yankees in three games.
- The two teams met earlier during the regular season, where the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the head-to-head matchup by finishing 5-1 against the Cleveland Guardians in 2026.
p>The 2026 Major League Baseball postseason features the Cleveland Guardians facing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday, October 12, at Tropicana Field. The best-of-seven series will determine the American League pennant winner and secure a trip to the World Series.
How the Guardians and Rays Reached the American League Championship Series
The Tampa Bay Rays earned an automatic bid to the American League Division Series and swept the New York Yankees in three games. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians dropped their first two games against the Chicago White Sox before winning three straight to take their Division Series in five games.
The two teams met earlier during the regular season, where the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the head-to-head matchup by finishing 5-1 against the Cleveland Guardians in 2026. In overall postseason history between the franchises, the Cleveland Guardians hold a 2-1 all-time playoff record against the Tampa Bay Rays, winning the 2022 Wild Card Series two games to none after the Tampa Bay Rays won the 2003 Wild Card Game.
Broadcast Information and Full Seven-Game Schedule
National television coverage for the series will air on TBS and TruTV, while HBO Max will provide live streaming for every game. The first two games take place in St. Petersburg, Florida, before shifting to Cleveland for the next three contests.
- Game 1: Monday, October 12, at Tropicana Field (Time TBD)
- Game 2: Tuesday, October 13, at Tropicana Field (Time TBD)
- Game 3: Thursday, October 15, at Progressive Field (Time TBD)
- Game 4: Friday, October 16, at Progressive Field (Time TBD)
- Game 5: Saturday, October 17, at Progressive Field (If necessary)
- Game 6: Monday, October 19, at Tropicana Field (If necessary)
- Game 7: Tuesday, October 20, at Tropicana Field (If necessary)
Home-Field Advantage and Series Rules
Under Major League Baseball postseason rules, the higher seed receives home-field advantage for the League Championship Series. The higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, along with potential Games 6 and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and a potential Game 5. The first team to secure four victories wins the pennant.
Probable starting pitchers for Game 1 and the remainder of the series remain undetermined.