Tampa Bay Rays Host Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 1

The Tampa Bay Rays face the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida. Fox News and CBS Sports both report that right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen will start on the mound for the Rays, while Fox News identifies Foster Griffin as pitching for the Guardians. According to CBS Sports, the game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern time start at Tropicana Field. [1][3][4]

The Guardians enter the series having won three consecutive games to overcome a 2-0 deficit against the Chicago White Sox in the division series, Fox News and CBS Sports report. CBS Sports details that Cleveland finished the regular season with an 85-77 record to win the AL Central division. The Rays captured the AL East title with a 98-64 record and posted a 57-26 home record through the regular season and playoffs. [1][3]

Drew Rasmussen made his Major League Baseball debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020 before joining the Rays, and he earned All-Star selections in 2025 and 2026. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning during a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. [11][15][16]

CBS Sports reports that the Cleveland franchise has not won a World Series since 1948, marking the longest active title drought in Major League Baseball, while the Tampa Bay Rays have never won a World Series title. The winner of this series will advance to the World Series to play either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers. [4]