Victor

Mesa Jr.

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).

Mesa connected on a hanging slider from Yankees ace Max Fried, sending a majestic 401-foot moonshot into the front row of the right-field seats to put Tampa Bay ahead with two outs in the sixth inning. It was his lone hit in four at-bats, but it made the difference in a low-scoring showdown in New York as the Rays completed a sweep of their division rivals to punch their ticket to the ALCS for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. They’ll face either the White Sox or Guardians later this week at Tropicana Field.

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).

If the Rays had anything meaningful to play for on Sunday, he would probably be in there, but he’ll get an extra day to rest in advance of the postseason. Victor Mesa Jr. will start in his place in left field and will bat leadoff for the Rays against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies on Sunday afternoon.

Mesa also singled, and he came around to score three times in the blowout win. The 25-year-old has had a solid season at the plate for the Rays, and he’s now the owner of an .825 OPS and 33 RBI; the latter figure more understandable because he’s played in only 78 games in 2026. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of role he has for Tampa Bay in the postseason; he’s earned a look.

Mullins has not started against any of the last five left-handed pitchers the Rays have faced, and they will face Carlos Rodon and Max Fried on Tuesday, which means it’s unlikely that Mullins starts either game. Jonny DeLuca should continue to take his place in center field, but it’s interesting to note that both Chandler Simpson and Victor Mesa Jr. are in the lineup on Tuesday and have started against the last three lefties. They may both be emerging as full-time players for the Rays.

Mesa’s home run was his 14th of the season. He hit a solo shot off Patrick Sandoval in the fourth inning. Mesa is hitting .357 with four home runs and nine RBI in 17 games in September. He’s hitting .251 with an .824 OPS and 31 RBI this year.

He golfed a Raisel Iglesias change up just over the right field wall in Truist Park. Mesa didn’t start against lefty Martín Pérez but has been something of a revelation for the Rays against right-handers this year, as he’s hitting .238/.303/.455 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases.

Recently back off the injured list, Mesa Jr. continues to hit. This home run was his 11th on the season in just 189 at-bats. He was also docked for a caught stealing in this game, but that was on an odd play where he tried to scamper home after a pick-off throw to first and was thrown out. Regardless, he’s a strong deep league option to close the season in an everyday role for the Rays hitting near the middle of their order.

Mesa Jr. was activated off the injured list on Tuesday and right back in the starting lineup against a lefty. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and is right back in there against a right-handed pitcher. Jonny DeLuca started on Tuesday, and Cedric Mullins is starting in center field and batting seventh tonight, so it appears that those two may be in a platoon.