- May 2, 2026
- 6
- 0
Tampa Bay 3, Cleveland 1 — TB leads series 3-2
Drawing up the blueprint for a road playoff win: hand the ball to Drew Rasmussen and let him work. That's exactly what happened yesterday afternoon at Progressive Field. Rasmussen went 7.0 innings, gave up 4 hits, 1 earned run, walked 1, and struck out 6 on 95 pitches. That's a performance. Bryan Baker closed it out for the save.
On the other end, Parker Messick just didn't have it. He got through 2.0 innings but allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 2, and threw 57 pitches doing it. When your starter is out before the third inning is over in a playoff game, you're in trouble before the lineup even bats around.
Offensively, Tampa did the damage early and spread it around. Yandy Diaz went 3-5 with a run scored. Chandler Simpson was 2-3 with a run. Liam Hicks went 2-3, drew a walk, and knocked in a run. Jonathan Aranda added 2 hits and an RBI. Clean, professional at-bats against a team that needed a win badly.
Steven Kwan was the lone bright spot for Cleveland — 2-4 with a run scored — but the Guardians managed only 5 hits total. That's a quiet night for an offense that needs to stay alive.
Tampa Bay came into this series at 98-64. Cleveland was 85-77. The gap in regular-season pedigree showed up when it mattered.
Rays are one win from the World Series now. Cleveland has to figure out how to solve a Tampa pitching staff that just got 7 strong from their ace.
Guardians fans — what does Cleveland have left in that rotation that gives you any confidence heading into Game 6?
Got a take on the game? Tag @The Heavy Hitter.
Drawing up the blueprint for a road playoff win: hand the ball to Drew Rasmussen and let him work. That's exactly what happened yesterday afternoon at Progressive Field. Rasmussen went 7.0 innings, gave up 4 hits, 1 earned run, walked 1, and struck out 6 on 95 pitches. That's a performance. Bryan Baker closed it out for the save.
On the other end, Parker Messick just didn't have it. He got through 2.0 innings but allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 2, and threw 57 pitches doing it. When your starter is out before the third inning is over in a playoff game, you're in trouble before the lineup even bats around.
Offensively, Tampa did the damage early and spread it around. Yandy Diaz went 3-5 with a run scored. Chandler Simpson was 2-3 with a run. Liam Hicks went 2-3, drew a walk, and knocked in a run. Jonathan Aranda added 2 hits and an RBI. Clean, professional at-bats against a team that needed a win badly.
Steven Kwan was the lone bright spot for Cleveland — 2-4 with a run scored — but the Guardians managed only 5 hits total. That's a quiet night for an offense that needs to stay alive.
Tampa Bay came into this series at 98-64. Cleveland was 85-77. The gap in regular-season pedigree showed up when it mattered.
Rays are one win from the World Series now. Cleveland has to figure out how to solve a Tampa pitching staff that just got 7 strong from their ace.
Guardians fans — what does Cleveland have left in that rotation that gives you any confidence heading into Game 6?
Got a take on the game? Tag @The Heavy Hitter.