Yandy Diaz didn’t leave much room for mystery after Tampa Bay’s Game 5 win.
Fresh off a three-hit night in the Rays’ 3-1 victory over the Guardians on Sunday, Diaz said the ALCS will end Monday at Tropicana Field.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Diaz, 35. “All of us are thinking of it.
But it all ends tomorrow (Monday). We’re going to win tomorrow.”
That sets up Game 6 of the best-of-seven series Monday night in Tampa, where the Rays lead 3-2 and can send Cleveland home with a win. If the Guardians answer back, they’ll get one more shot in Game 7.
Diaz has been a different hitter since the series moved deeper into the stretch. Through the first three games, when Cleveland held a 2-1 edge, he was 3 for 13 with one RBI while batting leadoff.
But in the Rays’ two wins in Games 4 and 5, he’s gone 5 for 10 with one homer and two RBI. He has now hit safely in seven of Tampa Bay’s eight postseason games.
“I’m just trying to get on base as much as I can,” said Diaz. “I’m not necessarily thinking of the hits or counting the hits. I’m just trying to do what I can to get on base, especially as the leadoff hitter.”
Diaz’s path makes the matchup even more familiar. The Guardians signed and developed him after he defected from Cuba, and he debuted in the majors with Cleveland in 2017 before the club traded him to Tampa Bay in December 2018.
In Other News...
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 🡒]