The Cleveland Guardians dropped a 7-3 upset on the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS, snagging that crucial 1-0 lead on the road. What an opener, right? Especially when you consider Tampa Bay was trailing 2-0 going into the sixth inning against their ace, Drew Rasmussen. Seriously, in retrospect, Rasmussen probably shouldn’t have come out for the seventh.
Game 1 Was a Gut Punch for the Rays
That Guardians lineup just came alive, racking up a whopping 14 hits against a Rays pitching staff that only gave up 12 total hits in their entire ALDS sweep against the Yankees. Talk about a complete turnaround! It’s wild to think Cleveland has now won four straight games in the same postseason, a feat they haven’t pulled off since starting 6-0 back in 2016. The stakes are already through the roof. Teams that grab a 1-0 lead on the road in this 2-3-2 series format go on to win the series 41 of 73 times, which is 56%. That’s gotta be gnawing at the Rays right now.
What’s at Stake in Game 2
Tonight, Tampa Bay is fighting to avoid back-to-back home losses for the first time in two months. That’s a stat that can mess with a team’s head. On the updated series line, Cleveland is sitting pretty at -165, with Tampa Bay at +135. Funny thing is, for Game 2 tonight, Tampa Bay is still favored at -137 on the money line, taking 69% of tickets and 64% of the money. Folks are leaning heavily on the Over 6.5, and honestly, after both playoff games yesterday were high scoring, who’s surprised? It was a weird Monday of MLB, for sure. You gotta hand it to both these clubs, too. They’re proof you don’t need a massive payroll to be a contender. Tampa Bay ranks 28th in the majors for payroll, and Cleveland is 30th. Their bullpens are both legit, though, so maybe that’s the secret sauce.
Game 2 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on TBS. No weather worries at the Trop, so it’s all about what happens on the field. Can the Rays turn it around and avoid that rare home losing streak, or will Cleveland keep this improbable postseason run going? You better believe everyone’s watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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