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Freddy Peralta SP | TB
Rays' Freddy Peralta: Starting Game 6 of ALCS
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.
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Victor Mesa Jr. RF | TB
Rays' Victor Mesa: Sitting versus southpaw
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.
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Richard Palacios 2B | TB
Rays' Richie Palacios: On bench vs. lefty
Palacios is out of the lineup for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Sunday.
Palacios went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs in Game 4 on Saturday but will take a seat Sunday since southpaw Parker Messick is starting for Cleveland. Ben Williamson is manning the keystone and batting eighth in a pivotal Game 5.
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Travis Bazzana 2B | CLE
Guardians' Travis Bazzana: Clubs first playoff homer
Bazzana went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo homer in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rays on Saturday.
The rookie second baseman gave the Guardians some life with a seventh-inning solo homer that cut the deficit to 5-2, but Cleveland was able to score just one additional run. It was the first multi-hit performance of the playoffs for Bazzana, who has a .200/.294/.367 slash line with two doubles, a homer, a stolen base, two RBI and four runs through nine games.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Goes deep in Game 4
Diaz went 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday.
Diaz scored Tampa Bay's first run after doubling during the third inning and provided some late insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to stretch the lead to 7-3. It's been a productive series thus far for the 35-year-old slugger, who is batting .278 (5-for-18) with three doubles, a homer, two RBI and four runs through four games.
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Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Comes alive in Game 4
Aranda went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs during Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday.
The first baseman went hitless in the first three games of the series, but he delivered a pair of RBI singles and scored twice Saturday to help Tampa Bay even the series 2-2. Aranda homered in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees but is otherwise without an extra-base hit in October. Still, the three-hit performance improve his postseason slash line to .269/.345/.385 through seven games.
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Foster Griffin SP | CLE
Guardians' Foster Griffin: No-decision in bulk role
Griffin didn't factor in the decision after giving up one run on four hits and no walks over 3.2 innings during Game 4 of the ALCS against the Rays on Saturday. He struck out five.
The left-hander allowed two runs over four innings while starting Game 1 of the series, but manager Stephen Vogt elected to have him follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Saturday. Griffin gave up a run on a double and a single during the third inning but was otherwise able to keep Tampa Bay in check. He shouldn't pitch Sunday in Game 5 after throwing 44 pitches but seems likely to be available for Game 6 and a possible Game 7.
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Nick Martinez SP | TB
Rays' Nick Martinez: Picks up win in Game 4
Martinez earned the win in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 5.1 innings.
The right-hander surrendered a run on two hits and a wild pitch during the opening frame but otherwise was able to keep Cleveland off the board to help even the series at 2-2. It was an improved effort from Martinez compared to his first playoff start during the ALDS, when he gave up two runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. He doesn't line up for another start versus the Guardians but could be available out of the bullpen for the final games of the series.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Intends to pitch in 2027
Ohtani intends to pitch in 2027, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports. "Yes, definitely," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked if he plans to pitch in 2027. "And looking forward to having a better season next year."
It remains to be seen whether Ohtani will have any offseason physical procedures, and how a potential lockout might affect his rehab and subsequent return date. Ohtani was great when he pitched, but he was last able to pitch July 3 due to his left knee injury and later biceps inflammation.
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Shawn Armstrong RP | CLE
Guardians' Shawn Armstrong: ALCS Game 4 postponed
Armstrong and the Guardians won't face the Rays on Friday in Game 4 of the ALCS, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
Games 4 and 5 will both be pushed back a day as a result. Armstrong had been slated to work as an opener in Game 4 after logging 5.1 shutout innings to begin the postseason, and the Guardians will stand pat with their plan to use him in the first inning of Saturday's contest, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo will be candidates to follow Armstrong in a bulk role.