The 2026 American League Championship Series has arrived, and it pits the Tampa Bay Rays against the Cleveland Guardians. Tampa Bay bulldozed its way through the AL bracket on the strength of a deep rotation and a lineup that simply won't strike out. Cleveland got here a different way - elite bullpen depth and one clutch October hit after another. Every game of this best-of-seven series airs nationally, so if you're blocking off your week around first pitch, you've come to the right place. Below is the full Rays vs. Guardians schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, live streams, scores for 2026 ALCS baseball games, along with a running scoreboard we update after every final out.
Full ALCS Schedule at a Glance
The series opens at Tropicana Field, where the Rays hold home-field advantage as the higher seed. Games 1 and 2 belong to St. Petersburg. Then the action shifts to Progressive Field for Games 3, 4, and, if necessary, Game 5, before swinging back to Tampa Bay for Games 6 and 7 should the series go the distance. Every first pitch is set for prime time on the East Coast, barring an afternoon start forced by weather. Check your local listings anyway - start times can drift a few minutes for the national window.
| Game | Date | First Pitch (ET) | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sat, Oct. 17 | 8:03 p.m. | Tropicana Field | Fox |
| Game 2 | Sun, Oct. 18 | 7:38 p.m. | Tropicana Field | Fox |
| Game 3 | Tue, Oct. 20 | 8:08 p.m. | Progressive Field | TBS |
| Game 4 | Wed, Oct. 21 | 8:08 p.m. | Progressive Field | TBS |
| Game 5* | Thu, Oct. 22 | 8:08 p.m. | Progressive Field | TBS |
| Game 6* | Sat, Oct. 24 | 8:03 p.m. | Tropicana Field | Fox |
| Game 7* | Sun, Oct. 25 | 7:38 p.m. | Tropicana Field | Fox |
Game-by-Game Breakdown: Dates, Times, TV Channels, and Live Streams
Each game has its own broadcast home, and every one of them streams legally with a subscription. Here's the game-by-game look, so you never miss a pitch.
Games 1 and 2: Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay
Game 1 gets the series underway Saturday, October 17, with first pitch at 8:03 p.m. ET on Fox. It streams live on the Fox Sports app with a valid cable login, and cord-cutters can find it on Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV - all of which carry Fox in most markets. Game 2 follows Sunday, October 18, at 7:38 p.m. ET, also on Fox and the same streaming platforms. Expect Tampa Bay to feed off its home crowd early. Cleveland, meanwhile, will be hunting a road steal to flip the pressure back on the Rays.
📊 The Rays are 5-1 at home this postseason - Tropicana Field has been a fortress, and Tampa Bay has yet to drop a home playoff game decided after the sixth inning.
Games 3, 4, and 5: Progressive Field, Cleveland
Now the series moves to Cleveland for three straight. Game 3 is set for Tuesday, October 20, at 8:08 p.m. ET on TBS, streaming on Max with a sports add-on, plus Sling TV and YouTube TV in select packages. Game 4 arrives Wednesday, October 21, at 8:08 p.m. ET on TBS and Max. Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, at 8:08 p.m. ET, again on TBS and Max. Cleveland's crowd has ranked among the loudest in baseball this October. The Guardians will need every decibel if they're staring down elimination.
📊 Cleveland's bullpen has thrown 24 1/3 scoreless innings across the playoffs - the deepest relief corps in the bracket is exactly why this series is far from decided heading into Games 3 through 5.
