ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, October 20, 2026: The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series after beating the Cleveland Guardians 7–3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.
Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit two-run home runs, while Richie Palacios supplied an early two-run double. Freddy Peralta worked 5⅓ innings, allowing one run, and was named ALCS Most Valuable Player after a strong series.
How Tampa Bay won
The Rays built a lead and held off a Cleveland rally before Díaz hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Bryan Baker closed the game in the ninth. The win secured Tampa Bay’s third American League pennant, following World Series appearances in 2008 and 2020.
Who will the Rays face?
Tampa Bay will meet the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday in Milwaukee. Neither franchise has won the championship, meaning the 2026 series will produce a first-time winner.
The Guardians’ elimination means there will be no Game 7 of the ALCS, despite conditional schedule listings that may still appear on some websites.
Sources
- Reuters, October 20: Rays advance to World Series
- Associated Press, October 20: Rays defeat Guardians 7–3
- Associated Press: Brewers–Rays World Series preview
Featured photo is an archival image of the Rays’ home ballpark, not Game 6 of the 2026 ALCS.
