Richie Palacios reached for a basketball comparison to explain where the Tampa Bay Rays stand now, and he went straight to the New York Knicks.
"The #Knicks were down 2-1 to Atlanta and they won the rest of the games"
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) October 17, 2026
Richie Palacios compares the Rays to the NBA champs:#RaysUp #Postseason
📻 #ALCS Pregame Show with @DaniWex, @JimDuquetteGM, and @KevinFrandsen
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With the Rays facing the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 on Saturday and trailing 2-1 in the ALCS, Palacios said the situation reminded him of the Knicks’ run through the NBA Playoffs. The New York team was in the same 2-1 hole against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round before turning things around and losing only one game the rest of the postseason, a Game 3 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals before winning the title.
For Palacios, the link was obvious.
“Yeah, ride's not done. We're gonna lock in on what we need to.
Damn, the Knicks were down 2-1, and they won the rest of the game, so we're focusing on…I'm a big Knicks fan, so you know the vibe,” Palacios said, via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. “We're following that belief in ourselves that they had, and we're going to be excited for tonight.”
He was also asked who on Tampa Bay fits the role of Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Palacios said plenty of players could claim that kind of status, while pointing to others in the mold of Jose Alvarado and Deuce McBride.
“We got a lot of guys that are just gritty and want to get things done,” Palacios said.
Now the Rays head into Game 4 trying to take that same kind of belief into the rest of the series.
In Other News...
Kevin Cashs Game 4 Pitching Move Changed The Rays ALCS Stakes
The Rays found a way to change the tone of the American League Championship Series in Game 4, and part of it came from a move that gave Kevin Cash a little more flexibility than usual. Freddy Peralta, who had already started and won Game 2, was available out of the bullpen for the 7-3 win over Cleveland, and Cash said the right-hander was eager to help in whatever role the team needed. Peralta handled a brief outing well, giving Tampa Bay another arm when the game tightened and helping the Rays even the series at two games apiece.
The bigger picture now shifts to Game 5, where the pitching plan becomes even more important with the ALCS hanging in the balance. Cash confirmed Drew Rasmussen will get the start, and the Rays enter the next game with a chance to take control after surviving a pivotal swing game on the road. For a club that has leaned into creative usage all October, the question is no longer just who starts, but how far Cash is willing to push his options as the series moves into its most pressure-packed stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Finally Found What They Needed With Season On The Line
With their season hanging in the balance, the Rays found the steadiness they had been searching for and forced the Guardians to keep playing under pressure. Tampa Bay mixed timely offense with crisp work in the field and enough pitching to keep Cleveland from ever fully settling in, a combination that was missing when the series tilted toward the brink.
Victor Mesa Jr. helped set the tone with a standout defensive sequence, while Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero supplied the kind of offense the Rays needed to stay alive. Nick Martinez and Foster Griffin handled the mound duties as Tampa Bay extended its lead late, taking advantage when Cleveland's defense slipped and turning a tight postseason game into one the Rays could finally control. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Drag ALCS Back To Tampa With Top Of Lineup Rolling
The Rays pushed the American League Championship Series back to Tampa with a 7-3 win over the Guardians in Game 5, a result that tied the series and kept their season moving into a familiar setting. Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Daz all helped fuel the offense, while Nick Martinez gave Tampa Bay the kind of steady start it needed in a game with a lot hanging over it.
Now the focus shifts to Tropicana Field for Game 6, where the Rays will try to turn this surge at the plate into another home-field edge. Cleveland is expected to counter with Parker Messick, and Tampa Bay will be banking on its top of the order to keep applying pressure after a night that made the route back home feel a lot more manageable. [Read more 🡒]