Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2026 5:35 PM
Who is starting for the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS?
The ALCS between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays is all even after Tampa Bay’s Game 4 win on Saturday evening.
Now, it’ll be a best-of-three games over the final
That makes Game 5 essentially a must-win for the Guardians before the series heads back to Tampa Bay for Game 6 and potentially Game 7. Here is the lineup Cleveland will use on Sunday evening.
Guardians ALCS Game 5 Starting Lineup
- Steven Kwan - LF
- Jose Ramirez - 3B
- Chase DeLauter - RF
- Jo Adell - DH
- Nathaniel Lowe - 1B
- Travis Bazzana - 2B
- Patrick Bailey - C
- Petey Halpin - CF
- Brayan Rocchio - SS
- Parker Messick - SP
Oct 17, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates a defensive play made by infielder Brayan Rocchio (not pictured) against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game four of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn ImagesThe Guardians are going with a very similar lineup for Game 5 that they've used for the first four games of the ALCS.
Cleveland's top four hitters, Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter, and Jo Adell, have been one of the best groups all postseason. Entering Game 4, the group had the second-highest OPS in the right playoff games up to that point.
Hopefully, the middle-bottom of the lineup can continue to come alive after a jolt of life on Saturday evening, thanks to a Travis Bazzana home run and a Brayan Rocchio RBI single,
With Tampa Bay's own group starting to find their groove in Game 4, the Guardians need their core to come alive in Game 5.
The biggest change the Guardians are making is behind the plate. Austin Hedges has been Messick's personal catcher for the entire season, but Cleveland is in desperate need of more offense, and the veteran backstop has never been known for his production at the plate.
So, for the first time all year, regular season and postseason, Patrick Bailey will be catching for Messick.
Bailey starting at nine gives the Guardians more offensive threats deeper in the lineup. He's quickly been one of Cleveland's best hitters this October, logging a .333/.379/.556 slash line with two home runs during the ALDS and ALCS.
Hopefully, this duo won't miss a beat, and Messick will be just as impactful on the mound as he's been with Hedges catching him behind the plate.
Cleveland's rookie south paw started Game 2 of the ALCS for the Guardians and allowed three unearned runs with three strikeouts and 5.0 innings of work. Messick will likely need to match or even surpass that final line for Cleveland to have a chance on Saturday evening.
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