Cleveland Guardians Face Elimination on Road in ALCS Game 6

Following a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians face a 3-2 series deficit heading into Monday’s Game 6.

The Cleveland Guardians face elimination in the American League Championship Series on Monday night at Tropicana Field after falling 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Cleveland currently trails the best-of-seven series 3-2. Due to a Game 3 rainout, there is no travel day before the matchup in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Guardians enter the contest with a 3-1 road record this postseason and a 47-38 overall record away from Progressive Field this year.

In Sunday's loss, rookie starter Parker Messick allowed two runs, five hits, and three walks over two innings, throwing 34 of 57 pitches for strikes. The Cleveland bullpen subsequently limited Tampa Bay to one run over the final seven innings. Steven Kwan recorded two of Cleveland's five hits and contributed two defensive highlights: a fourth-inning outfield assist throwing out Taylor Walls at home and an eighth-inning leaping catch at the center-field wall to rob Victor Mesa Jr. of a run-scoring hit.

Manager Stephen Vogt has ruled out right-hander Gavin Williams for Game 6 after the pitcher threw five innings in Game 3. Foster Griffin is a potential candidate for the start, having previously worked 3 2/3 innings as a bulk reliever in Game 4. While Messick reached the 200-inning mark for the season—the first Cleveland rookie to do so since 1991—his Sunday outing was the shortest of his career. Historically, teams trailing 3-2 in the ALCS have successfully rallied to win the series in seven out of 23 instances.