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The American League pennant fight narrows to two teams as the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians meet in a high-stakes ALCS. Both clubs carry momentum and history into this series, with Tampa Bay aiming to reach the World Series after a dominant regular season and Cleveland riding a hot streak capped by late postseason heroics.
ALCS matchup snapshot: what to know about Rays vs. Guardians
The Rays finished as the American League’s top team and entered the postseason as favorites. They swept the Yankees in the Division Series and bring a deep pitching staff to the ALCS.
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The Guardians reached this round with grit. Jose Ramírez was instrumental in Cleveland’s comeback wins, helping the team survive three straight elimination games in the prior round.
Through three games, Cleveland leads the series 2–1. Momentum and home-field shifts will be decisive as the series heads into Game 4.
Game-by-game schedule and recent results
Completed games and scores
- Mon., Oct. 12 — Game 1: Guardians 7, Rays 3
- Tue., Oct. 13 — Game 2: Rays 3, Guardians 1
- Thu., Oct. 15 — Game 3: Guardians 3, Rays 2
Upcoming slate and broadcast times (ET)
- Sat., Oct. 17 — Game 4: Guardians vs. Rays — 8:00 p.m. — TBS, DIRECTV†
- Sun., Oct. 18 — Game 5: Guardians vs. Rays — 5:00 p.m. — TBS, DIRECTV
- Mon., Oct. 19 — Game 6*: Rays vs. Guardians — 8:00 p.m. — TBS, DIRECTV
- Tue., Oct. 20 — Game 7*: Rays vs. Guardians — 8:00 p.m. — TBS, DIRECTV
† Game 4 was originally set for Oct. 16 but was postponed because of rain. * Games 6 and 7 will be played only if needed.
How to watch: TV channels and streaming options
All ALCS games are airing nationally on TBS. Fans across the country can tune to the same network for play-by-play and studio coverage.
Streaming choices
- DIRECTV — live stream option with trials for new subscribers.
- National broadcasters and digital platforms may also carry condensed or highlights packages.
Check local blackout rules and carrier lineups before the first pitch. Subscription packages vary by provider.
Live audio: radio coverage and satellite options
Listeners can follow the series on satellite radio and the SiriusXM app.
- SiriusXM channels 205 and 206 — team broadcasts for Guardians and Rays, respectively.
- SiriusXM Sports Pass provides broader sports talk and live play-by-play across leagues.
Car listeners can access the channel lineup directly, while app users can stream on mobile devices.
Where this series fits in the 2026 postseason picture
The ALCS winner will advance to the World Series to face the National League champion. The current playoff timeline lists key dates across October.
- Tue., Sept. 29 — Wild Card series begin
- Sat., Oct. 3 — Division Series begin
- Sun., Oct. 11 — NLCS begins
- Mon., Oct. 12 — ALCS begins
- Fri., Oct. 23 — World Series begins
Where to find more coverage and live updates
- Real-time box scores and play-by-play on league and team websites
- Postgame analysis and expert columns from national sports outlets
- Betting lines and odds trackers for each game
- Team social channels for behind-the-scenes content
