Cleveland had an opportunity to put the Rays in a 2-0 hole and head back home with momentum in the 2026 ALCS. But thanks to Freddy Peralta and the Guardians themselves, Tampa Bay tied the series at one on October 13.
Rays quiet Guardians’ offense
The Rays defeated the Guardians 3-1 to even up the 2026 ALCS at one game apiece.
Neither Freddy Peralta nor Parker Messick, the two starters in this game, allowed an earned run. But it was the fourth inning when things got hairy for the Guardians. A throwing error from Jose Ramirez allowed Victor Mesa Jr. to score the game’s first run. Later on, Liam Hicks notched a two-run RBI that scored Williamson and Chandler Simpson to make it 3-0.
The Guardians attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI double from Chase DeLauter. However, that was the only run scored by Cleveland in Game 2.
Freddy Peralta (26.8% Whiff%, 27.3% CSW%) was strong, as he went six scoreless innings, struck out six, and threw the hardest pitch of the night at 99.4 MPH.
Ohtani will play Game 3
For now, all the chatter around Shohei Ohtani‘s presence in the lineup can go away.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated on the 13th that Ohtani will be in the lineup for Game 3 against the Brewers. Through six postseason games, Ohtani is 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts.
On the 12th, a report from The New York Times indicated that the Dodgers were considering benching Ohtani, who’s dealt with a myriad of injuries over the past few months.
What’s ahead?
It will be a travel day for the Rays and Guardians before three scheduled games in Cleveland between October 15 and 17, 2026. The 2026 NLCS resumes on October 14 in Los Angeles.
Robert Gasser (Brewers) and Blake Snell (Dodgers) are the scheduled starters.
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