Guardians vs Rays: ALCS Game 1 time, TV and stream guide
The Cleveland Guardians visit the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 1 of the 2026 American League Championship Series on Monday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. The slot is prime time. The prize is the pennant, meaning the American League title and a place in the World Series.
The game airs live on TBS and truTV in a simulcast, meaning the same feed on both channels. It is also available to livestream on HBO Max, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Viewers without cable can watch through live TV bundles carrying those channels, including DirecTV, Fubo, Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
The ALCS is a best-of-seven series. Tampa Bay holds home-field advantage after finishing 98-64, so Cleveland opens on the road in St. Petersburg, Florida. The winner meets the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.
Tampa Bay arrives as AL East champions after sweeping the New York Yankees 3-0 in the AL Division Series, according to MLB.com and the Associated Press. Cleveland beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2. Tampa Bay took the season series 5-1, Reuters reported.
Both clubs made one roster switch for this round. Cleveland will carry 13 pitchers, Reuters reported. That group includes 27-year-old Cecconi, who was 5-7 with a 4.91 ERA ahead of the series. ERA stands for earned run average, a measure of runs allowed per nine innings.
Foster Griffin is set for his first career postseason start in the series, according to MLB.com. He struck out seven batters in 2 2/3 innings of relief in Game 3 of the ALDS. Short outings like that can reshape a pitching plan fast.
The rest of the slate is organised around evening starts on TBS. Game 2 is Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay. Game 3 is Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6:00 p.m. ET and Game 4 is Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:00 p.m. ET in Cleveland. If required, Game 5 is Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET, Game 6 is Monday, Oct. 19 at 5:00 p.m. ET and Game 7 is Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23 on FOX. In the NLCS, Milwaukee led the Dodgers 1-0 entering Game 2 on Oct. 12. ESPN is carrying live scores, highlights and updated stats for the Oct. 12 Guardians-Rays game.
For fans, this means a simple choice. Tune in on TBS or truTV, or stream the same night on HBO Max or a live bundle that carries TBS.
