The Cleveland Guardians are four wins away from the World Series.
After dropping the first two games of the American League Division Series to the Chicago White Sox, the Guardians won the next three games to advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-seven series.
In the fifth game of the series, Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams tied the team's single-game postseason record of 12 strikeouts, which he accomplished in 5⅔ innings. Williams allowed one hit and two walks in his outing and helped the Guardians shut out the White Sox for a 2-0 win in the winner-take-all finale.
Guardians star third baseman Jose Ramirez had struggled entering the postseason, but hit .357 with a double, triple and two home runs in the final three games of
the ALDS. He also hit the go-ahead home runs in the fourth and fifth games of the series.
Here's how to watch the Guardians play in the upcoming American League Championship Series:
When do the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays play Game 1 of the 2026 ALCS?
Game 1 of the ALCS is at 8 p.m. ET Oct. 12.
What TV channel is Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays on?
- TV channel: TBS, TruTV
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial), HBO Max
Game 1 is accessible on TV via TBS and TruTV. You can stream the ALCS by accessing the channels on Fubo or by directly streaming the game on HBO Max.
Probable pitchers for Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1
The Guardians will send out Foster Griffin to pitch in Game 1 of the ALCS. Griffin had a relief appearance in Game 3 of the ALDS, striking out seven batters in 2⅔ innings. Griffin started the year with the Washington Nationals before he was traded to the Guardians hours before the MLB trade deadline and finished the year with a 3.60 ERA.
Griffin will face Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who struck out 10 batters while allowing one hit and two walks in eight innings of work against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the division series.
2026 ALCS schedule
All times Eastern
- Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12. Guardians at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13. Guardians at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15. Rays at Guardians 6 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16. Rays at Guardians 6 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- *Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 17. Rays at Guardians 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- *Game 6: Monday, Oct. 19. Guardians at Rays, 5 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
- *Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20. Guardians at Rays, 8 p.m. – TBS / truTV / HBO Max
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How to watch Cleveland Guardians in MLB playoffs, ALCS today on TV, streaming
