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Low-budget small ball will reign supreme in the ALCS starting tonight.
At 8 p.m. ET, Junior Caminero’s Tampa Bay Rays host José Ramirez’s Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the seven-game series at St. Petersburg, FL’s Tropicana Field.
This showdown will serve as an unofficial tiebreaker for the two franchises who have met twice in the postseason before — the 2013 and 2022 Wild Card Games — and split those winner-take-all contests.
Watch Guardians vs. Rays for free
- When: Oct. 12, 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
- How to watch for free: DIRECTV (five-day free trial)
- TV Channel: TBS
As for tonight, oddsmakers favor the well-rested Rays who come into today’s matchup as -170 moneyline home favorites.
However, Kevin Cash’s club hasn’t played since Oct. 7 (when they finished off their sweep of the Yankees) and, sometimes, a five-day lull in the postseason can be a death sentence for a streaky team.
Throw in the fact that Cleveland is also riding high after taking the last three of five against the White Sox, who seemed to be MLB’s team of destiny, and anything can happen.
Don’t miss out. We’re expecting elite low-budget small ball at its very best.
Here’s how to tune in to the Game 1 of the ALCS for free without cable.
Guardians vs. Rays start time
The Guardians-Rays ALCS is scheduled to begin with Game 1 today, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Guardians vs. Rays ALCS Game 1 for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Guardians and Rays in the 2026 ALCS for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX as part of its 125+ channel options.
Guardians vs. Rays starting pitchers
The ALCS opens with a pitcher’s duel. Midseason acquisition Foster Griffin (15-6, 3.61 ERA) starts for the Guardians, while ace Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) will be on the mound for the Rays.
Guardians vs. Rays ALCS schedule
- Game 1: Oct. 12, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Game 2: Oct. 13, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Game 3: Oct. 15, 6 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Game 4: Oct. 16, 6 p.m. ET (TBS)
- Game 5: Oct. 17, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)*
- Game 6: Oct. 19, 5 p.m. ET (TBS)*
- Game 7: Oct. 20, 8 p.m. ET (TBS)*
*if necessary
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