Rays clinch ALCS with Game 6 win, to face Brewers in World Series
Rays celebrate after taking down Guardians to reach World Series (0:19)
ESPN News Services
Oct 19, 2026, 11:12 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Freddy Peralta threw 5⅓ gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise's 29 seasons.
The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.
Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers opened as -155 favorites to beat the Rays, who came in at +135, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Peralta was named ALCS MVP after allowing just one run across 12 innings pitched.
Acquired by the Rays from the New York Mets before the trade deadline, Peralta turned around his season in Tampa Bay. Peralta was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three appearances, including two starts, in the ALCS. The two-time All-Star tossed six scoreless innings in Game 2 and got two important outs in relief in Game 4.
"This is crazy," Peralta said. "I'm very happy to be here, to be part of this great group and this organization."
The loss extended Cleveland's World Series championship drought to 78 years.
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