Rays stumble in ALCS opener, AL East roundup

The Tampa Bay Rays opened the American League Championship Series on the wrong foot. At home in St. Petersburg, the AL East champions (98-64) lost 7-3 to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALCS, as reported by La Presse. Cleveland takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven.

Rays: Tough start, long-term core still in focus

Before the series got underway, the Rays and Guardians announced their ALCS rosters, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Tampa Bay handed the ball to Cy Young candidate Drew Rasmussen for the opener at Tropicana Field, underscoring how much they are leaning on the right-hander this October.

At the same time, CBS Sports highlighted how the Rays owe what it calls their biggest current star, Junior Caminero, to Cleveland. The outlet recalled that the Guardians traded Caminero to Tampa Bay for Tobias Myers in a deal that executive Chris Antonetti himself has admitted was a “bad trade.” Game 1 of the ALCS adds another layer to a transaction that continues to link the two franchises.

The bullpen remains central to Tampa Bay’s identity as well. MLB Trade Rumors detailed how the Rays turned Bryan Baker into an All-Star closer, stabilizing a ninth-inning role that was described as unsettled entering the season after the Pete Fairbanks era.

MLB Trade Rumors also revisited a three-team trade from last winter that reshaped multiple rosters. Josh Lowe went to the Los Angeles Angels as an everyday outfielder to replace Taylor Ward, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, while Gavin Lux landed with the Rays. Tampa Bay is presented as having found a potential replacement for Brandon Lowe in that swap.

Red Sox, Yankees: Lawson lands in Miami

For the Boston Red Sox (87-75) and New York Yankees (93-68), the news involves a familiar coaching name. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Miami Marlins are set to name Dillon Lawson their next hitting coach. Lawson is the former Yankees hitting coach and previously served as an assistant hitting coach with the Red Sox. He joined the Marlins organization this past summer as a roving hitting coach following his dismissal in April.

The Baltimore Orioles (79-82) and Toronto Blue Jays (79-83) were idle, staying in the background while the Rays carry the AL East banner deep into October.