The Guardians head into Game 2 of the ALCS with a 1-0 series edge after taking the opener 7-3, and now they hand the ball to a familiar name in a familiar setting. Left-hander Parker Messick gets the start Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, with Cleveland trying to keep the pressure on the Rays and move one step closer to the next round.
Messick is making his third start of the 2026 postseason, and the timing lines up cleanly for Cleveland. He last pitched in Game 4 of the ALDS, which left him on normal rest for this matchup. There’s also a little homecoming feel to it: Messick grew up in Plant City, Florida, less than an hour’s drive from Tropicana Field.
The Rays will counter with two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta, a deadline pickup from the Mets in August. Peralta spent most of his career with the Brewers, where he logged six playoff starts and nine postseason appearances. In his lone start for Tampa Bay in the division series, he threw 4.2 scoreless innings against the Yankees.
Cleveland’s lineup for Game 2 starts with Steven Kwan in left field and Jose Ramirez at third base, followed by Chase DeLauter as the designated hitter and Jo Adell in right. Nate Lowe bats fifth at first base, with Travis Bazzana at second, Petey Halpin in center, Austin Hedges behind the plate and Brayan Rocchio at shortstop.
Tampa Bay’s order opens with Yandy Diaz at DH, Jonathan Aranda at first, Junior Caminero at third and Victor Mesa Jr. in right field. Jonny DeLuca is in center, Chandler Simpson in left, Ben Williamson at second, Liam Hicks catching and Taylor Walls at shortstop.
Cleveland comes in riding four straight playoff wins after eliminating the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS. Game 2 is set for 8:08 p.m. and can be seen on TBS, HBO Max, TruTV and Univision. On the radio, it will air on WMMS (100.7-FM), WTAM (1100-AM), WARF (1350-AM, Spanish broadcast) and ESPN Radio.
In Other News...
Guardians Fans Just Got A Deeper Look At The Clase Ortiz Case
Federal prosecutors have now laid out more of the FBI investigation surrounding former Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, giving fans a fuller sense of how the case against the ex-Cleveland relievers came together. Both men face federal charges that include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and both have pleaded not guilty as the case moves toward a November 2025 trial.
At the center of the allegations is a betting scheme in which gamblers placed large wagers on pitches thrown by the two pitchers, then reportedly cashed in on the results before money was allegedly funneled back to the players as bribes. For a franchise that spent years leaning on Clase in high-leverage spots, the latest filings only deepen the intrigue and the unease around a case that now has a clear legal timetable and plenty of unanswered questions. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Biggest ALCS Question Could Decide Everything Against The Rays
Cleveland got through the White Sox in five games to clinch the American League Division Series, and now the attention shifts to a far sharper test against a Tampa Bay club that swept the Yankees and arrives with plenty of momentum. The matchup sets up as a study in contrasting strengths, with both teams coming in after efficient October showings and a series that should be shaped as much by timely hitting as by the usual postseason pitching and defense.
The Guardians have reasons to feel good about where they stand, but the key question is whether their lineup can create enough pressure against a Rays team that already proved it can control a playoff series start to finish. Some of the clearest indicators point toward Cleveland needing certain bats to carry more weight than they did in the first round, while the pitching plan will matter just as much as the offense once the series gets back to Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Made One ALCS Roster Choice Fans Will Be Watching
The Guardians made a notable tweak to their American League Championship Series roster ahead of facing the Rays, turning to Slade Cecconi for added pitching depth as the series moves to a best-of-seven stage. Cecconi spent the regular season in the rotation, making 21 starts, but he has recently shifted into a relief role, giving Cleveland another arm it can deploy in a potentially longer series where bullpen coverage matters.
Daniel Schneeman, meanwhile, was left off the ALCS roster after not appearing in the previous ALDS games. The move underscores how tightly Cleveland is managing its postseason bench and pitching mix, with every spot carrying extra weight now that the margin for error has shrunk and the roster decisions are becoming harder to read as the matchup with Tampa Bay unfolds. [Read more 🡒]