MLB Player News

Caminero went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Game 6 of the ALCS versus Cleveland on Monday.

The 23-year-old extended Tampa Bay's lead to 5-1 with a two-run shot in the seventh inning, which was his first home of the postseason. Caminero entered the contest with a .636 OPS through eight playoff games, but his Game 6 performance boosted his slash line to .273/.351/.455 in 43 plate appearances. With the Rays now headed to the World Series, he may have found his power stroke just in time.

Diaz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday.

Diaz now has an extra-base hit in four straight contests, going 7-for-18 with three doubles, two homers, four RBI and five runs during that span. The 35-year-old's homer Monday provided some key insurance runs late, pushing Tampa Bay's lead to 7-3 in the eighth inning to help secure a World Series berth. Diaz has a .906 OPS in 41 plate appearances during the postseason.

Peralta was named the MVP of the ALCS after picking up the win in Game 6 against the Guardians on Monday. He allowed one run on five hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings.

Peralta delivered a pair of strong starts in the ALCS, resulting in two victories. Before taking the mound to clinch the series Monday, the 30-year-old right-hander earned the win in Game 2, fanning six across six scoreless innings of work in a 3-1 victory. Peralta also recorded two outs without allowing a run in Game 4 out of the bullpen. He'll now set his sights on facing his former club in the World Series and could line up for a start in Game 2 on Saturday.

Armstong will serve as the Guardians' opener Monday in Game 6 of the ALCS versus the Rays, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

It will be the third appearance in as many days for Armstrong, who tossed 1.1 scoreless frames in Game 5 and another scoreless inning in Game 4. He's been lights out this postseason, allowing only two hits with a 6:0 K:BB over 7.2 scoreless frames.

Wells said earlier this month that he believes "the culmination of multiple blows to the head" affected his production in the first half, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Wells took a foul tip to the mask April 23 and another one two weeks after that. While he was able to pass concussion testing, the catcher had symptoms and eventually landed on the 10-day injured list in early June with cervical headaches. Wells felt healthy after returning and had a .787 OPS with eight home runs after the All-Star break (as compared to a .504 OPS and six home runs in the first half). The 27-year-old is currently slated to open the 2027 campaign as the Yankees' top catcher, though it's possible the team seeks help from outside the organization.

Baker issued a walk and allowed no hits in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in Game 5 of the ALCS at Cleveland on Sunday. He did not record a strikeout.

The right-hander walked leadoff batter Chase DeLauter to open the ninth but quickly locked in from there, as he needed just six pitches to retire the next three hitters and secure a 3-2 series lead for Tampa Bay. That's now 35 consecutive successful save conversions for Baker, who has fired six scoreless innings and allowed just three baserunners in six postseason appearances.

Messick was charged with the loss in Game 5 of the ALCS against Tampa Bay on Sunday, giving up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks across two innings.

It was a messy performance from the left-hander, who needed 57 pitches (34 strikes) to record just six outs in a pivotal Game 5. After a strong second half of the regular season that saw him post a 2.30 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 in 13 starts after the All-Star break, Messick has given up nine runs (six earned) over 13.2 frames through four postseason starts. If the Guardians can win Monday to force a Game 7, Messick could be available given his shortened outing Sunday.

Rasmussen earned the win in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.

It was another strong showing from Rasmussen, who has surrendered just three earned runs over 21 frames in three playoffs starts and has given up two runs or fewer in each of his past nine outings dating back to Aug. 24. The right-hander has blossomed into an ace, and Sunday's performance puts Tampa Bay one victory away from making the World Series.

Peralta will start Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Peralta will take the mound for his second start of the series after he pitched six scoreless innings while striking out six batters on his way to a win in Game 2. He also pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing a walk without surrendering a run in an appearance out of the bullpen in the team's 7-3 victory in Game 4. The right-hander has posted a 0.79 ERA over three postseason appearances this year, and he'll have a chance to help punch the Rays' ticket to the World Series with a win Monday.

Mesa is out of the lineup for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has started all seven of Tampa Bay's playoff games, but he'll head to the bench Sunday against Cleveland lefty Parker Messick. Mesa clubbed a decisive two-run homer in Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, but overall he's batting just .160 (4-for-25) with 11 strikeouts in October.