ALCS watch: Rays tie series with Cleveland at 2-2 after Saturday win

The first four games of the National League Championship Series gave the Brewers their first ticket to the World Series in 44 years. The first four games of the American League Championship Series, meanwhile, settled nothing.

The Tampa Bay Ray scored a 7-3 win in chilly Cleveland on Oct. 16, a game delayed one day by Ohio rain, and evened the series at 2-2. It’s now a best-of-three going forward to determine which team will face the Brewers in the 2026 World Series.

Former Brewers starter Freddy Peralta made a brief appearance in the sixth, relieving starter Nick Martinez, walking one batter and retiring two others to get the Rays out of the inning. Peralta would still theoretically be on track to start Game 6, scheduled for Oct. 19 in Tampa Bay and, as of Game 4, guaranteed to happen.

Junior Caminero’s laser-beam double broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, and a two-run single by Jonathan Aranda in the seventh gave the Rays a 4-1 lead, one batter before a Chandler Simpson sacrifice fly upped it to 5-1. Aranda finished 3 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs in the game.

Leadoff batter Yandy Díaz doubled and homered, a two-run shot in the ninth that provided the final insurance for the Rays.

Martinez allowed just one run on two hits in 5 ⅓ innings, with three strikeouts. The Guardians went with a bullpen game, getting 3 ⅔ innings out of Foster Griffin and allowing one run. But each of the next four relievers called upon were responsible for at least one run in their short stints.

Peralta now has a 0.79 ERA in the postseason this year, with one run allowed in 11 ⅓ innings. The 2025 Brewers ace could be on the hill for a clinching game and then again back on the mound at American Family Field in the World Series if things break correctly.

Because of the rainout Oct. 16, the teams meet again for Game 5 at 4:08 p.m. CT on Oct. 18, still in Cleveland, then play again with no day off in between Oct. 19 in Tampa Bay for Game 6, with a first pitch at 7:08 p.m. CT. If necessary, Game 7 will be played at 7:08 p.m. CT on Oct. 20.

Both teams will send their ace to the mound for Game 5, including former Brewers starter Drew Rasmussen for the Rays against Cleveland rookie Parker Messick.

The Brewers, with seven days off between the final game of the NLCS and the start of the World Series, will have a minimum of four days rest more than their ALCS foe.

Travis Bazzana had two hits, including a home run, for the Guardians. The Rays have a team OPS of just .598 in their seven postseason games, and though the Guardians only have a .682 in their nine games, that’s second among all playoff teams behind Milwaukee’s .739.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ALCS watch: Rays tie series with Cleveland at 2-2 after Saturday win

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.