yahoo
The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians will battle in the American League Championship Series for the right to advance to the World Series. The Rays, who dominated the AL throughout the regular season, are making their third ALCS appearance and first since 2020. Cleveland, meanwhile, returns to this stage for the first time since 2022, aiming to end a championship drought that dates back to 1948.
Tampa Bay earned a sweep over the New York Yankees in the Division Series, showcasing their dominance. The Rays previously reached the ALCS in 2008, defeating the Boston Red Sox before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. In 2020, they advanced past the Houston Astros but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic.
Cleveland, considered the underdog, enters with momentum after Jose Ramirez fueled three consecutive elimination-game victories against the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series. The Guardians last appeared in the World Series in 2016, losing to the Chicago Cubs in a memorable seven-game series. Their most recent ALCS trip came in 2022, when they were defeated by the Yankees.
Full ALCS Schedule
All games will be broadcast nationally on TBS and can be streamed via DIRECTV, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
- Game 1: Monday, October 12 – Rays vs. Guardians, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 2: Tuesday, October 13 – Rays vs. Guardians, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 3: Thursday, October 15 – Guardians vs. Rays, 6 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 4: Friday, October 16 – Guardians vs. Rays, 6 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 5: Saturday, October 17 – Guardians vs. Rays, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 6: Monday, October 19 – Rays vs. Guardians, 5 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
- Game 7: Tuesday, October 20 – Rays vs. Guardians, 8 p.m. ET (TBS, DIRECTV)
If necessary
How to Watch
TBS will air every game of the series nationally. Viewers can also stream the action through DIRECTV, which provides a free trial for new users. DIRECTV offers access to a wide range of sports channels, including ESPN, TNT, TBS, FS1, and NFL Network, with no long-term contracts.
MLB Postseason Schedule
- Wild Card Series: Begins Tuesday, September 29
- Division Series: Begins Saturday, October 3
- NLCS: Begins Sunday, October 11
- ALCS: Begins Monday, October 12
- World Series: Begins Friday, October 23
Originally reported by yahoo.