The Rays moved within one win of the World Series on Thursday night, beating the Guardians 3-1 in Cleveland in Game 5 of the ALCS and taking a three games to two series lead. Drew Rasmussen carried the night for the Rays, holding Cleveland to one run on four hits over seven innings.
That is why the search now turns to when does the World Series start: the Rays can answer it for themselves only if they win again. Yandy Díaz summed up the mood afterward with a simple promise, saying, “We’re going to win tomorrow.” Freddy Peralta will take the mound for the Rays in Game 6, with a chance to finish the series and send Tampa Bay to the sport’s final round.
If the Rays do get there, the path gets even bigger. They would face the Brewers in the World Series, and that matchup would guarantee a first-time champion because neither club has ever won it before. The Brewers have already cleared their own test, sweeping the Dodgers in the NLCS, which means the other half of the bracket is now settled and waiting for the Rays to join it.
That is the part that keeps Game 6 from feeling like a formality. The Rays are one win from the World Series, but they still have to earn it on the field, and one loss would push everything back to another night and another chance. Mark Attanasio has already talked about wanting a championship for the fanbase and the community, but for now the only thing that matters is whether the Rays can close out the Guardians before the question of when the World Series starts becomes their reality.
