Rays one win from World Series as ALCS returns to Tropicana Field for Game 6 against Guardians

As of 2:54 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

The Tampa Bay Rays can clinch the American League pennant on Monday night when they host the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series at Tropicana Field. The Rays lead the series 3-2, and first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET, according to MLB's Gameday. The game will be broadcast on TBS and HBO Max, MLB.com reported.

Tampa Bay took the lead with a 3-1 win in Game 5 on Sunday in Cleveland, where Drew Rasmussen held the Guardians to four hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings, MLB.com reported. A win on Monday would send the Rays to the franchise's third World Series.

Pitching

Right-hander Freddy Peralta will start for the Rays and right-hander Shawn Armstrong for the Guardians, according to MLB's Gameday. Peralta threw six scoreless innings in Game 2 and is 6-0 with a 0.79 ERA in nine appearances, eight of them starts, since Aug. 26, MLB.com reported.

The Guardians announced Monday morning that Armstrong will serve as the opener, with Cleveland again planning a bullpen game, MLB.com reported. Armstrong has thrown four scoreless innings over three ALCS appearances, according to MLB.com. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has said ace Gavin Williams is not an option to pitch on short rest, MLB.com reported.

Lineups

Official lineups had not been posted as of 2:54 p.m. ET. MLB.com projected Steven Kwan, José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter atop Cleveland's order, noting that Vogt used the same nine starters in Games 3 through 5. For Tampa Bay, MLB.com projected Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero at the top.

What they're saying

"It's a great opportunity. All of us are thinking of it," Díaz said, according to MLB.com. "But it all ends tomorrow. We're going to win tomorrow."

"Let's go. We don't have another choice," Vogt said, according to MLB.com. "We don't like being in this position, but it's like we said in the last series when our backs were against the wall."

If Cleveland wins, Game 7 would be played on Tuesday, MLB.com reported. The winner will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, according to MLB.com.