Yandy Díaz scores three runs in thrashing of Phillies

Williamson has been functioning in a short-side platoon role with nearly all of his starts coming against left-handers, so it’s interesting to see him in there against Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski for Game 1. Here’s the full lineup that manager Kevin Cash will deploy as the Rays look to secure the first World Series title in their franchise’s history: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Chandler Simpson (LF), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Ben Williamson (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

For the second time in three games, Díaz hit a late two-run shot to extend the Rays’ lead to four runs. The 35-year-old has been outstanding in the postseason with a .308 average and .903 OPS, and he’ll hit at the top of the lineup for the World Series against the Brewers beginning Friday.

Díaz doubled and singled twice, and he came around to score in the second on a Jonathan Aranda knock. He now has five hits in his last two games, and more importantly, he’s a big reason the Rays are just one win away from a trip to the World Series against the Brewers.

With left-hander Parker Messick on the mound for the Guardians in Game 5, the Rays will change things up with Vilade starting in right field and batting third while Williamson takes over at second base and will bat eighth. Here’s the full lineup that Rays’ skipper Kevin Cash will deploy as the Rays look to take control of the ALCS on Sunday: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Ryan Vilade (RF), Junior Caminero (3B), Chandler Simpson (LF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Liam Hicks (C), Ben Williamson (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

Diaz essentially put the game away with his two-run homer in the ninth to give the Rays a 7-3 lead. The homer is not only his first of the postseason, but it also gives him his first runs driven in since the regular season ended. The 35-year-old will have a chance to add to those totals in a critical Game 5 come Sunday.

The Rays will utilize the same starting nine that they used in Thursday’s loss in Game 3, but the batting order has changed. Simpson moves up from fifth to third while Junior Caminero slides into the cleanup spot. Here’s the full lineup that the Rays will deploy against Shawn Armstrong and a host of Guardians’ relievers: Yandy Diaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Simpson (LF), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Richie Palacios (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

Vilade posted an .818 OPS against southpaws during the regular season and will get a chance to face Guardians starter Foster Griffin at Tropicana Field to kick off the best-of-seven showdown. The 27-year-old lefty-masher blasted a solo homer off Yankees ace Max Fried during Tampa Bay’s series-clinching victory last week. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Vilade (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Ben Williamson (2B), Taylor Walls (SS) and Nick Fortes (C).

Rays manager Kevin Cash isn’t making any changes following a series-opening victory where Jonathan Aranda’s solo homer was enough for a nearly-flawless Drew Rasmussen, who took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning. Caminero, who is likely to finish near the top of AL MVP Award balloting, finished a phenomenal regular season with 42 home runs, reaching the lofty 40-homer plateau for the second straight season. Here’s the full lineup: Yandy Díaz (DH), Jonathan Aranda (1B), Junior Caminero (3B), Liam Hicks (C), Chandler Simpson (LF), Victor Mesa Jr. (RF), Jonny DeLuca (CF), Richie Palacios (2B) and Taylor Walls (SS).

Yandy Díaz is also getting a breather after the Rays wrapped up the AL East division title earlier this week at Yankee Stadium. The 25-year-old speedster has been on fire recently, hitting .322 (19-for-59) while piling up eight stolen bases over his last 15 games. He’s up to 46 steals on the year.

The singles were his only hits in nine at-bats today, but they were very well timed. He had gone hitless in six straight games entering the nightcap, dropping his average from .301 to .290. He’s hitting .249/.297/.385 in 61 games since the All-Star break.