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MLB · October 18, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians Final — October 18, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays logo
Tampa Bay Rays
98-64
3
Starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen Probable
FINAL
Cleveland Guardians logo
Cleveland Guardians
84-77
1
Starting pitcher Parker Messick Probable
Sunday, October 18 · 5:10 PM ET
TBStarting pitchersseason to dateCLE
2.67
ERA
2.56
11th2.82
FIP
3.0714th
172.0
Innings
186.1
30
Starts
32
TBOffense2026 regular season to dateCLE
12th4.54
R/G
4.1924th
TBDefenseCLE
6th4.01
RA/G
4.138th
TBTeamCLE
6th+0.53
Run diff/G
+0.0613th
TBLast 10 gamesCLE
-2+1+4-2+5-7-2+2+11-4
Game by game
+3+2+6+1+1-1+1+3+6-1
5-5
Last 10
8-2
+6
Net
+21
Top third of the leagueMiddle thirdBottom thirdBar = league rank (full = 1st)
Injuries & restkey injuries · rest and travel
TBRest & travelCLE
950 mi1,529 km
Travel to the game
Home
TBKey injuriesCLE
Shane McClanahan SPOut
Players out or limited
None listed
About these numbers

Probable starters as listed by MLB, captured October 18, 6:15 a.m. ET. Season pitching line before game time; FIP rank among the 188 pitchers with at least 10 starts (1st = lowest).

2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (30 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.

Margin of each of the last 10 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.

Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.

No key players listed.

Key players only. Injury report and probable pitchers as of October 18, 10:10 a.m. ET.

The pre-game matchup

The Rays (98-64) visited the Guardians (84-77) on Sunday, October 18 at 5:10 PM ET.

The Rays score 4.54 runs per game (12th of 30) and allow 4.01 (6th). The Guardians score 4.19 runs per game (24th of 30) and allow 4.13 (8th).

The total closed at 6, down from 6.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Rays -130, Guardians +110) prices the Rays at 54% and the Guardians at 46%.

Written from the numbers available before kickoff.

Result

Final score and result vs the closing line

Tampa Bay Rays 3, Cleveland Guardians 1

Tampa Bay Rays won by 2.

  • Against the closing spread (Cleveland Guardians +1.5): Tampa Bay Rays covered.
  • Combined score 4 vs the closing total of 6: Under.
  • Tampa Bay Rays closed at -130 on the moneyline (a 54% no-vig market-implied chance).

Market

Closing line and line movement

Run lineno move
OpenGuardians +1.5 (-182)
Rays -1.5 (+152)
CloseGuardians +1.5 (-170)
Rays -1.5 (+140)
Totaldown 0.5
Open6.5 (o -106 / u -112)
Close6 (o -115 / u -105)
Moneyline
OpenRays -127 54%
Guardians +106 46%
CloseRays -130 54%
Guardians +110 46%

Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.

Matchup

Head-to-head

The teams have met 26 times since 2023: the Rays won 14 and the Guardians 12.

DateScoreLineTotal
Jul 26, 2026Guardians 0, Rays 1
Rays won

Jul 25, 2026Guardians 0, Rays 3
Rays won

Jul 24, 2026Guardians 3, Rays 11
Rays won

Apr 29, 2026Rays 1, Guardians 3
Guardians won

Apr 28, 2026Rays 1, Guardians 0
Rays won

Meetings since 2023, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.

Teams

Tampa Bay Rays

Cleveland Guardians

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