Chase DeLauter keeps finding ways to leave his mark on October, and Sunday night added another line to the Cleveland Guardians’ postseason ledger.
In Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the rookie picked up his 11th hit of the postseason, matching the most ever by a Cleveland rookie in a single playoff run. The Guardians dropped the game 3-1 and now trail the best-of-seven series three games to two, but DeLauter’s bat has stayed steady enough to keep him in rare company.
MLB’s Sarah Langs noted the tie with Brayan Rocchio at the top of the franchise list, posting:
“Most hits in single postseason, rookies in Cleveland history: 2026 Chase DeLauter: 11,” Langs posted.
Most hits in single postseason, rookies in Cleveland history:
2026 Chase DeLauter: 11
2024 Brayan Rocchio: 11
2007 Asdrubal Cabrera: 10
- Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 18, 2026
DeLauter didn’t just arrive at this total with one hot game. He’s been collecting hits all month. He had two in Game 2 of the division series against the White Sox, then hit safely in each of the final three games of that series, including an RBI in the Game 3 elimination win.
The ALCS has brought even more production. In Game 1, DeLauter went 3-for-4, launched a first-pitch home run off Drew Rasmussen, and followed it with a double that helped spark Cleveland’s go-ahead rally. He kept it rolling in Game 2, reaching base three times and driving an RBI double at 104.5 mph off left-hander Ian Seymour.
He also came through early in Game 4 with an RBI single that snapped Nick Martinez’s scoreless streak against the Guardians. In Game 5, he drove in Steven Kwan with a groundout for Cleveland’s lone run.
There was one rough moment in the field on Saturday, when a ball slipped under his glove in right field during Tampa Bay’s three-run seventh inning. Even so, his offense has been the story.
That matches the kind of season he put together in the regular year. DeLauter hit .287 with a .363 on-base percentage, 16 home runs, 30 doubles and 67 RBIs, and his 131 OPS+ led the team.
For a player taken in the first round out of James Madison, the rise has been quick. He made his big league debut in last year’s Wild Card Series, and now, one year later, he’s already carved out a place in Guardians postseason history.
Cleveland still has work to do. Game 6 is set for Monday at Tropicana Field, and the Guardians have to win to force a Game 7 on Tuesday. DeLauter needs one more hit to own the record outright, and the Guardians would love nothing more than to see it come in a moment that keeps their season alive.
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Guardians Turn To An Unexpected Arm In Must Win Game 6
With their backs against the wall in Game 6, the Guardians are making a less conventional call on the mound by turning to right-hander Shawn Armstrong as the opener. It is the kind of move that speaks to the urgency of the moment, especially with the series slipping and Cleveland looking for any edge it can find against a Rays club that has been getting strong pitching at the right time.
Tampa Bay brings plenty of confidence into the matchup after Drew Rasmussen followed up with another dominant postseason showing in Game 5, while Freddy Peralta is lined up to get the ball for Game 6 after settling in quickly since arriving. Cleveland, meanwhile, is still trying to rebound from Parker Messick's rough recent start, and the Guardians' choice to hand the first inning to Armstrong only adds another layer of intrigue to a game they simply cannot afford to waste. [Read more 🡒]
Parker Messick Sent A Defiant Message Guardians Fans Will Love
Parker Messicks two innings in Game 5 were only a small part of a night that left the Guardians in a tough spot, as the Rays pulled out a 3-1 win and moved within one victory of the World Series. Even so, the young pitcher did not sound rattled after the loss, and his postgame message carried the kind of edge Cleveland fans tend to appreciate when the season is hanging in the balance.
The Guardians now head to Tropicana Field needing to win both remaining games to keep their postseason run alive, a steep ask against a Rays club that has already taken control of the series. Messicks confidence after his early exit offered a reminder that the mood inside the clubhouse is still pointed toward a comeback, even with the margin for error gone. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Took A Risk With Parker Messick In The Worst Spot
The Guardians made a notable change behind the plate in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, pairing Parker Messick with Patrick Bailey instead of Austin Hedges for the first time. It was the kind of move that spoke to the moment as much as the matchup, with manager Stephen Vogt leaning on Baileys strong bat while accepting the possibility that it could alter the rhythm Messick had built with his usual catcher.
It proved to be a tough night for the rookie. Messick got through only two innings and allowed two runs, and Cleveland never quite recovered in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. In a postseason game where every small edge matters, the Guardians took a calculated swing on catching alignment, and the result only sharpened the question of whether the risk was worth it in the biggest spot. [Read more 🡒]