Dombrowski: Trea must play well at SS to stay there

Peralta will start two days after getting two outs in relief in Game 4. He previously started Game 2 of the season, shutting out the Guardians for six innings in the Rays’ 3-1 victory.

Manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t ready to name a starter, but the plan doesn’t include Williams, who saw his velocity dip in his fifth and final inning Wednesday. Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo will both be available to go long in Game 6.

DeLauter drove in a run in the sixth on a fielder’s choice, and unfortunately for him and the Guardians it came with Cleveland trailing by three. He also drew a walk and now has a .297/.395/.432 slash in his 10 postseason games in 2026.

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.

Baker issued a walk to open the ninth, but was able to get the next three outs to procure his fifth save of the postseason; an impressive total even before you remember the Rays have only played eight games in the playoffs. Assuming he’s needed, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be called upon again in Game 6 against the Guardians on Monday.

Messick was going to need to be at his best to match Drew Rasmussen, and he wasn’t close. The left-hander allows runs in the first and second inning before exiting, and he needed a whopping 57 pitches to get his six outs. Messick won’t be available in Game 6 — one would think, anyway — but if they can force a Game 7 with a win Monday, it’s feasible that he could be an option for that contest come Tuesday. There’s a very good chance that this is the last time we’ve seen Messick pitch in 2026, and he was one of the best rookie starters in baseball and appears to have a bright future in the coming campaigns.

A brilliant outing from Rasmussen, who has had an exceptional postseason that has seen him forge a 1.29 ERA in his three October starts. He scattered four hits, and outside of a fielder’s choice that scored a run in the sixth, there was very little trouble for the 31-year-old. Rasmussen threw 95 pitches, but could be available for Game 7, if necessary. The right-hander has Tampa Bay just one win away from their second World Series for now, with a chance to clinch that trip Monday at home.

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).

If you’re keeping track at home, it’s also the same lineup that they deployed in victories in Game 1 and 3 of the series. Battling Rays’ right-hander Drew Rasmussen is always a very difficult assignment, but they managed to earn a victory against him in Game 1, so they know that it can be done. Here’s the full lineup that manager Stephen Vogt has turned in for the Guardians’ most critical game of the season on Sunday: Steven Kwan (LF), José Ramírez (3B), Chase DeLauter (RF), Jo Adell (DH), Nathaniel Lowe (1B), Travis Bazzana (2B), Patrick Bailey (C), Petey Halpin (CF) and Brayan Rocchio (SS).

The 29-year-old backstop hit .185/.185/.370 with one RBI in 28 plate appearances with the Dodgers in 2026. He’ll latch on somewhere as quality catching depth, presumably at the Triple-A level, in 2027.