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🏆 Sports › ALCS 2026: Rays vs. Guardians
ALCS 2026: Rays vs. Guardians
By The Trends Incoming team
The ALCS is tied 2-2 after Tampa Bay's 7-3 win in Game 4. Game 5 is today, Sunday Oct 18, at 5:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. The winner plays the Brewers in the World Series starting Oct 23.
What's trending in ALCS 2026: Rays vs. Guardians
Rays even the ALCS at 2-2
Tampa Bay pulled ahead in the seventh with help from a Cleveland error, and Yandy Díaz added a two-run homer in the ninth for a 7-3 Game 4 win. Game 5 is tonight at 5:08 p.m. ET in Cleveland on TBS, truTV and HBO Max, then it heads to St. Petersburg.
The quick version
The 2026 ALCS is tied 2-2 after Tampa Bay beat Cleveland 7-3 on Saturday night. Game 5 is today, Sunday, October 18, at 5:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, on TBS, truTV and HBO Max (UniMas in Spanish). The winner meets the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, which starts Friday, October 23.
| Series | Tied 2-2, best of seven |
|---|---|
| Game 1, Oct 12 | Guardians 7, Rays 3 (at Tampa Bay) |
| Game 2, Oct 13 | Rays 3, Guardians 1 (at Tampa Bay) |
| Game 3, Oct 15 | Guardians 3, Rays 2 (at Cleveland) |
| Game 4, Oct 17 | Rays 7, Guardians 3 (at Cleveland, after a Friday rainout) |
| Game 5 | Sun Oct 18, 5:08 p.m. ET, Cleveland. Parker Messick vs. Drew Rasmussen |
| Game 6 | Mon Oct 19, 8 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg |
| Game 7 (if needed) | Tue Oct 20, 8 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field |
| TV | TBS, truTV, HBO Max; UniMas in Spanish |
| Winner plays | Milwaukee Brewers, World Series Game 1 on Fri Oct 23 on FOX |
How we got here
Tampa Bay was the top team in the American League at 98-64, and Cleveland (85-77) came in as the underdog after a comeback against the White Sox in the Division Series. The Guardians stole Game 1 on the road, the Rays answered behind Freddy Peralta in Game 2, and rookie Petey Halpin's two-run homer won Game 3 for Cleveland. Then the rain came. Friday's Game 4 was postponed, and on Saturday the Rays turned two Cleveland errors into runs, with Jonathan Aranda's seventh-inning single and a Yandy Díaz two-run homer in the ninth sealing it.
Why Game 5 matters so much
Per MLB.com research, when a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series 46 of 69 times, about 67%. The twist: Tampa Bay hosts Games 6 and 7, so a Cleveland win today means the Guardians need just one more on the road, while a Rays win sends them home needing one of two.
Our take
This has been a pitching-and-defense series, with no team scoring more than seven runs and two of four games decided by a run or two. Whoever avoids the mistakes tonight probably wins. Either way, the Brewers get a well-rested look at the winner.
Keep going
- World Series 2026: dates, TV and the Brewers
- How the Brewers swept the Dodgers
- The full MLB postseason hub
- Why Milwaukee's run is a big deal
- Also tonight-ish: the WNBA Finals
Follow the conversation
Quick answers
When is ALCS Game 5 in 2026?
Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 5:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
What channel is the ALCS on?
TBS and truTV, streaming on HBO Max. UniMas has Spanish-language coverage.
What is the ALCS series score?
Tied 2-2 after the Rays won Game 4 7-3 on October 17.
Where are ALCS Games 6 and 7?
At Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg: Game 6 on Monday, October 19, and Game 7, if needed, on Tuesday, October 20, both at 8 p.m. ET.
Who does the ALCS winner play?
The Milwaukee Brewers, in the World Series starting Friday, October 23, in Milwaukee on FOX.