ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays head to Cleveland for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday tied 1-1 with the Guardians, after a 3-1 win in Game 2 answered Cleveland’s come-from-behind 7-3 victory in the opener.
First pitch at Progressive Field is set for 6 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on TBS and HBO Max. Spanish-language coverage will be available on UniMas, with radio on Univision’s TUDN Radio.
“It’s going to be a challenging place to play,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “We played there not too long ago in the postseason. That’s as good an atmosphere as you’re going to see. They’ve got a great fan base that’s going to be behind their team. I’d like to think we can carry our momentum into there and just play good baseball for Game 3.”
Tampa Bay will send right-hander Griffin Jax to the mound. Jax has posted a 0.90 ERA over his past five appearances and has put up a 2.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 13 career relief appearances at Progressive Field. He pitched two innings of relief against the Yankees in ALDS Game 3, throwing just 32 pitches, and has allowed only two runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out 19 in 20 innings over his last four regular-season starts and that relief outing.
Cleveland has not formally named its starter, but right-hander Gavin Williams is the expected option on regular rest. The 27-year-old posted a 1.54 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in the ALDS, including a franchise postseason record 12 strikeouts in a Game 5 clincher against the White Sox.
“We feel great. Obviously we would have loved to have taken [Game 2],” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “That would have been really big. And we had our position and our opportunities to do that. But going home 1-1, to go have three games in front of our fans in Cleveland, we feel really good about that. And we’re excited to get it going.”
The series carries significant historical weight for both franchises. The Rays have reached the World Series twice — in 2008 and 2020 — but have never won a championship since entering the league in 1998. The Guardians carry the longest World Series drought in the major leagues at 77 seasons, last winning in 1948.
On the injury front, left-hander Shane McClanahan, who finished the regular season on the injured list with left forearm tightness, has been shut down for the remainder of the postseason, Cash confirmed. Junior Caminero and Jonny DeLuca were both cleared after a collision chasing a foul ball in Game 3. Closer Bryan Baker has recorded the save in each of Tampa Bay’s four postseason wins.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will also be played at Progressive Field before the series returns to St. Petersburg.