Sports Day Tampa Bay

Kevin Cash has decided that Nick Martinez, not Drew Rasmussen, will start Game 1 of the World Series, and Rick and Steve walk through why. Rasmussen has already thrown 43 more innings than ever before, according to pitching coach Kyle Snyder, and an extra day of rest will help him. Freddy Peralta's command slipped late in his last start, and he gets Game 3 at the Trop. As Cash put it, "Nick Martinez just wins." The hosts also look at the downside: in a five-game series, Rasmussen and Peralta would each pitch only once. Rasmussen is disappointed, and Steve assumes he'll go in Games 2 and 6.From there, they size up a matchup in which the Rays aren't favored (The Athletic's writers polled roughly 85 percent for Milwaukee). Rick predicts six or seven games between two teams that mirror each other, while Steve thinks the Brewers were the best team all year and that the National League was tougher. It's the first meeting of the two best records in baseball since 2020. They debate the bullpen: Rick thinks middle relief is the weak spot, Steve says the group has been good with only Ian Seymour struggling, and both agree Martinez can't be allowed to go through the lineup a third time. With one of these teams about to win a first title, they talk about the Rays' third World Series in roughly 28 seasons, the Brewers' 44-year wait, the Game 3 atmosphere at the Trop, and secondary-market tickets near $1,000. "Four wins from immortality."After a sponsor break, the show turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove on his throwing hand that was invented by the Rays' home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond, a receiver's glove with the thumb ripped off and a support inserted (there are two versions, hard plastic and soft cast), and Marc Topkin got the story from a clubhouse attendant in Milwaukee. That's "Team Tampa Bay" in action. Rick and Steve then preview Sunday's game at Carolina, where the Bucs give themselves a small chance but can't afford to fall 3.5 games back. The Panthers have a strong offense (Bryce Young with MVP chants, John Izzo calling plays, Tetairoa McMillan) and a bottom-third defense, so Rick expects a shootout. They also discuss Graham Barton on how hard the quarterback's operation is, Emeka Egbuka's concussion protocol and foot injury, the Lightning's trip to Denver and Utah (and the need for two TVs Friday and Saturday), an off weekend for Florida, Florida State, and USF, and why Steve says to "savor it" as the Rays reach the World Series on the heels of last year's Steinbrenner Field season.SegmentsNick Martinez to start World Series Game 1Cash's reasoning, Rasmussen's workload, and Peralta in Game 3The risk of starting Martinez: Rasmussen and Peralta only pitch onceRays vs. Brewers: who is favored and the bullpen debateA first title for one team: the Rays' third World Series and the Brewers' 44-year waitGame 3 at the Trop and ticket pricesSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International PlazaBaker Mayfield's return and the glove invented by Nick BondBucs at Carolina: Bryce Young, the Panthers' offense, and the division mathGraham Barton on the quarterback's operation and the Shanahan/Purdy headset storyEmeka Egbuka's concussion and foot injuryLightning in Denver, college football's off weekend, and savoring the Rays' run

The Rays have landed in Milwaukee for the World Series, which begins Friday, and Rick and Steve start by sizing up a matchup between two teams that have never won it all. They revisit how the Rays went 1-2 against every NL Central opponent early in the season, why Tampa Bay isn't favored, and a stat from Hard Rock Bet that Tampa Bay has had six championship-round appearances since 2020, more than any other city. Rick reflects on how far the franchise has come from displacement at Steinbrenner Field and a rebuilt Trop to the sport's biggest stage, and the hosts debate whether the Brewers' eight days off will cause rust. They also wonder if Junior Caminero's long-awaited homer will be the start of one of his streaks.The pitching plan is a big topic. Jacob Misiorowski (16-5 with 252 strikeouts) is expected to open for Milwaukee, and Rick wants Drew Rasmussen to match him. Steve makes the case for starting Nick Martinez in Game 1, giving Rasmussen an extra day of rest in Game 2, and saving Freddy Peralta for Game 3 at the Trop, where he has been spectacular. Rick says he has plenty of faith in Martinez. They also point out how rested the bullpen is, with Brody Hopkins, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Cole Sulser all needing work, and remind everyone that winning one of the first two games on the road would put the Rays in great shape for three at home. They remember the loudest moments at the Trop, from the Kiermaier-Adames-d'Arnaud relay against Houston to the crowd pop on the final out of the ALCS, and Rick explains why this series should be a treat for fans who love the strategy of baseball.In a mailbag question from Craig in Vegas, the guys discuss whether Yandy Diaz's number should be retired. Steve rattles off the numbers (second in team history in on-base percentage, tied for second in batting average at .291, third in hits, fifth in runs, doubles, and home runs) and they debate the difference between the Rays Hall of Fame and retiring a number, with Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, and Ben Zobrist as points of comparison, and compare it to which Lightning players will get numbers retired. After a note on $881 average secondary-market ticket prices, they turn to the Bucs: Baker Mayfield practiced with a glove on his throwing hand and looked accurate, though the velocity wasn't there, Emeka Egbuka is in concussion protocol with a foot injury, and about 20 players are on the injury report (five with illness). They also react to the viral stat that the Lightning are the last Tampa Bay pro team to win at Raymond James Stadium, the Lightning's 6-2 win in Vegas behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov's tying Stamkos for the franchise points record (1,137 in 194 fewer games), the case that Kucherov is the greatest Lightning player ever, Mike Evans' injury, and the Chris Godwin question: Rick looks at his lack of targets and wonders whether the Bucs should consider trading him before next week's deadline.SegmentsRays arrive in Milwaukee for the World SeriesThe Rays' history against the NL Central and the Brewers' rest"Champa Bay": six championship rounds since 2020Caminero's homer and whether he stays hotMisiorowski vs. Rasmussen and the Game 1 starter debateBullpen rest and the 2-3-2 formatThe Trop's loudest momentsWhy this World Series is a strategy lover's dreamMailbag: should the Rays retire Yandy Diaz's number?Ticket prices and World Series revenueBaker Mayfield returns to practice with a gloveBucs injury report and the Carolina gameLightning's last-win-at-Raymond-James statLightning beat Vegas 6-2; Kucherov ties Stamkos and the greatest-Lightning-player debateMike Evans and the Chris Godwin trade questionSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays are headed to the World Series for the third time in franchise history, and Rick is joined by Tampa Bay Times Rays beat writer Marc Topkin to explain how a team that most people (including Rick) pegged for around .500 got here. Marc describes the scene at Tropicana Field after the ALCS clincher, and then walks through the season: a roster coming off back-to-back losing years, the camaraderie that built through spring training, Nick Martinez as the team's unifier (and the guy who picks up the dinner checks), Eric Neander's pre-opening-day speech before a game they lost after blowing a 7-0 lead, the early sweep of the Yankees, a four-game sweep in Boston after the All-Star break followed by a sweep of Toronto, and the AL East clincher and postseason celebrations at Yankee Stadium. They revisit Yandy Diaz's "we're going to win tomorrow" quote before Game 6.The pitching staff gets plenty of time. Marc talks about Drew Rasmussen, who has come back from three elbow surgeries and hasn't lost a game he started since before the All-Star break, and about lining up Rasmussen for World Series Game 1 and Freddy Peralta for Game 2 so both former Brewers can pitch in Milwaukee. He breaks down the trade for Peralta, why Neander passed on a package with top prospect Theo Gillen, and the small adjustments (a quicker delivery without the windup, a new spot on the rubber, more changeups, a higher release point) that turned him into the ALCS MVP, then covers Brian Baker's rise from middle reliever to a streak of 30-plus straight saves, and Liam Hicks, the Arkansas State product and former hockey goalie from Canada who caught seven pitchers on his first night with the team and homered in Colorado.From there, they get to the personalities: Junior Caminero's 38-second home run trot and the Randy Arozarena pose at home plate, his four-strikeout slump before the rainout, and Chandler Simpson's "cause chaos, create havoc" approach, which warps defenses more than any hitter in baseball. Marc describes Yandy Diaz's growth as a quiet leader (he's the only Rays player remaining from the 2020 World Series) and tells a story about a lineup-card typo that had him at first base. Then he compares this team to the 2008 Rays based on conversations with Joe Maddon, Evan Longoria, BJ Upton, Carlos Pena, and others, and previews the Brewers: the best team in baseball, led by young star Jackson Chourio and flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, with a front office headed by former Rays executive Matt Arnold. The recorded intro and outro also cover the Bucs preparing for Carolina and the status of Baker Mayfield's thumb, the Lightning's trip west, and the perfect idea for a boat parade from St. Petersburg to Tampa.SegmentsThe scene at the Trop and why the Rays surpassed expectationsCamaraderie, Nick Martinez, and Eric Neander's opening-day speechHow the season unfolded: Yankees sweeps, Boston, Toronto, and the clinchersYandy Diaz's guarantee and the volume at the TropDrew Rasmussen's postseason dominance and the World Series rotationFreddy Peralta: the trade, the fixes, and the ALCS MVPBrian Baker's emergence as closerLiam Hicks, the catcher the Rays stole at the deadlineJunior Caminero's trot and star powerChandler Simpson's chaosYandy Diaz: the longest-tenured Ray and a quiet leaderParallels to the 2008 RaysPreviewing the BrewersIntro and outro: Bucs prepare for Carolina, Baker Mayfield's status, Lightning, and a boat paradeSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series for the third time in franchise history after beating the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in ALCS Game 6, and Rick says he's never been around a team that surprised him more. Steve was at the Trop and takes Rick through the moment Junior Caminero's home run (off Cade Smith's splitter, the first homer Smith has allowed on that pitch in 884 thrown, down the line off the foul pole) made it 5-1 and turned the building into a party. They laugh about his 38.66-second home run trot, his stop at home plate to point at Randy Arozarena in the crowd and strike the "Randy pose," and the way Andy Freed said it was "out counting time" on the radio. Then things got dicey: Tyler Wells walked a run in and hit a batter to make it 5-3 with the bases loaded, before Kevin Kelly shut the door, and Yandy Diaz's home run in the bottom of the eighth put it away. They also salute Taylor Walls' smart double play, Richie Palacios (the team leader with 35 two-out RBIs this season), and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta, who allowed one earned run in 12 innings in the series. Rick is convinced the Guardians hit Diaz on purpose after his guarantee comments, and Steve questions the decision in an elimination game.The guys look ahead to a Brewers series they both think will be a joy to watch: two teams that win with pitching, defense, contact, and moving runners, the first World Series since 1980 between two franchises that have never won it, and a matchup between the two best teams in baseball. They go through the Rays' improbable path, from DraftKings' preseason win total of 77 or 78 to a 3.2 percent chance at the ALCS from FanGraphs, plus the fact that 17 of the 26 players in the dugout Monday were acquired in trades and only four (Aranda, Seymour, Simpson, and Walls) were originally signed or drafted by the Rays. They sort out the World Series pitching order (Peralta can't pitch Game 1 on short rest, and Steve likes Nick Martinez, then Drew Rasmussen, then Peralta), talk about the new ownership group and Stu Sternberg, and discuss Aaron Boone returning for a tenth season with the Yankees, Cade Smith's tie with Brian Baker for the league lead in saves, and a boat parade for St. Petersburg.At the end, the hosts turn to a few other topics: the 49ers beat the Commanders to go 6-0, but Mike Evans left with an Achilles injury; Jalon Daniels' fourth-down throwaway in the red zone; Baker Mayfield practicing Wednesday while Todd Bowles stays noncommittal about the starter; and the Lightning playing late tonight in Vegas, with puck drop at 10:45.Segments:Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 to win the ALCSCaminero's home run and the Randy Arozarena poseA shaky eighth: Tyler Wells, Kevin Kelly, and Yandy Diaz's knockout homerTaylor Walls' glove, Richie Palacios' clutch hitting, and Freddy Peralta's MVP seriesWhy Cleveland ran out of pitching and who delivered for the RaysWorld Series preview: Rays vs. Brewers and the rotation orderHow the Rays built this team: trades, Kyle Snyder's coaching, and long oddsMemories of the 2008 World Series and Rich McKay's adviceAaron Boone's return and the New York reactionBoat parade, the Rowdies' title, and Dave Wills49ers beat the Commanders; Mike Evans injuredBucs QB outlook and the Lightning in VegasSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays can clinch the American League pennant tonight at Tropicana Field with Freddy Peralta on the mound. After taking two of three in Cleveland, Tampa Bay has the series back at the Trop, and Rick opens by wondering whether there's been a more clutch pitcher this postseason than Drew Rasmussen, who allowed one hit through five shutout innings in Sunday's 3-1 win. Rick and Steve talk about the Rays' run of timely scoring (a run in each of the first three innings), a wall-climbing catch in right field, and a bullpen that held up, including Cam Boozer and Tyler Wells. They also raise one concern: Brian Baker's velocity is starting to dip, which is another reason to finish it tonight and avoid a Game 7 that would require a patchwork of Griffin Jax, Ian Seymour, Nick Martinez, and Rasmussen. Waiting in the World Series would be the Milwaukee Brewers, who won 103 games and swept the Dodgers while trailing in every game.The guys also reflect on how a team that was told to "block out the noise" has become so tight, why the Rays keep finding value from other organizations (Peralta, Rasmussen, Liam Hicks, and Boozer, who was out of baseball two years ago), and what it means for kids growing up in the Tampa Bay area. Rick says Kevin Cash, the longest-tenured manager in baseball, deserves a better first line on his Wikipedia page than Blake Snell, and shares memories of the 2008 World Series and the Ray Hawks. He also revisits last week's debate about Tampa Bay's crowds, saying the Rays' variable pricing started too high, and predicts there won't be many empty seats tonight (or as many Guardians fans as there were Steelers fans at Raymond James Stadium).The second half is the Bucs' collapse. Tampa Bay led Pittsburgh 16-3 in the fourth quarter and lost 26-19 in overtime, in front of a stadium full of Terrible Towels. Chase McLaughlin kicked the game-tying field goal, the defense had five sacks (two from David Walker, Rueben Bain Jr.'s first career sack, and an interception by A'Shawn Robinson), but Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers came back, Jalon Daniels threw two interceptions, and he was sacked on the final play. Rick and Steve talk about the lack of a true number one receiver, the Dallas win being as much Dallas' loss as the Bucs' win, Todd Bowles saying there's "no margin for error" at 1-5, and the division math: Tampa Bay is two and a half games behind 3-2 Carolina, needs to go roughly 8-3 the rest of the way, and plays the Panthers next. Baker Mayfield's status won't be known until Wednesday. The show closes with the Lightning's 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks (6-2 on the season, heading to Vegas), a wild college football weekend (Florida beats Texas, Auburn beats Georgia, BYU beats Notre Dame, and Ohio State outlasts Indiana), and some stories about trying to get to Milwaukee.Segments:Rays are one win from the World Series: Game 6 tonight with PeraltaRasmussen's clutch pitching and the Game 5 winBullpen, Baker's velocity, and what Game 7 would look likeWhy this Rays team works: acquisitions, chemistry, and Kevin CashGrowing up with the Rays: 2008 memories and the Ray HawksBucs lose to the Steelers in overtime after leading 16-3Jalon Daniels, the receiver problem, and the defense's five sacksBowles: "no margin for error" and the NFC South mathBaker Mayfield's status for CarolinaLightning beat the Canucks 4-2 and head westWorld Series travel and a snowy bus ride to Green BayCollege football: Florida over Texas, Auburn over Georgia, BYU over Notre DameSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays lost ALCS Game 3 in Cleveland 3-2, and Rick says their offense is in a bad place: three hits, 13 strikeouts from a team that rarely strikes out, and a "big three" of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero that still hasn't shown up. Caminero struck out four times, and Rick and Steve wonder whether his shoulder is bothering him after the collision with Johnny DeLuca or whether he's simply pressing in his first real postseason, chasing pitches he normally lays off. They credit Gavin Williams and Cleveland's pitching and defense, note that Griffin Jax held the Guardians to three runs through five innings (which most people would have taken), and point out that Chandler Simpson's stand-up triple briefly gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. With rain in the forecast and the Rays needing at least one win in Cleveland to get back to the Trop, the hosts even discuss how a rainout could line up Drew Rasmussen for Game 4. Meanwhile, the Brewers finished off the Dodgers with a 6-4 win, and Rick calls Milwaukee the quietest 100-win team ever and one that will be tough for anyone in the World Series.Rick also returns to last night's debate about whether Tampa Bay is a bad baseball town. Neither LCS game was sold out (the Dodgers were about 7,000 seats short of their announced crowd), and he wonders why only the Rays got criticized. He points out that Tampa and Hillsborough County leaders committed roughly $2 million to a ballpark, and says you can't judge fandom on attendance or tell people how to spend their money.On the Bucs, Baker Mayfield tried to throw after Wednesday's practice and it didn't go well, so he's out for Sunday and Jalon Daniels will make his third straight start against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. Rick thinks Baker will return at Carolina, but argues that the Dallas win means little if the Bucs can't follow it with one against Pittsburgh. They discuss T.J. Watt, Todd Bowles' calling Rodgers a "nightmare," how the Bucs could rattle him the way they did in the 2020 NFC Championship Game, why Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum are playing great, and whether the Bucs can finally win at home. Then it's a quick look at the Broncos' overtime win over the Seahawks, a happy night for the Lightning (Victor Hedman wins it in overtime against the Kraken, Steve flags that they blew two third-period leads and went 0-for-3 on the power play, and they're now 9-0-2 all-time against Seattle), and a college football weekend loaded with ranked matchups, including Florida at Texas and Florida State at Miami.Segments:Rays lose ALCS Game 3 3-2: three hits and 13 strikeoutsCaminero's struggles and the Rays' "big three"Game 4 rain possibilities and the need to win one in ClevelandBrewers sweep the Dodgers; the World Series outlookNeither LCS game sold out: Rick's defense of Tampa Bay baseball fansBucs-Steelers preview: Baker Mayfield is out, Jalon Daniels starts againStopping Aaron Rodgers and winning at homeBroncos beat the Seahawks in overtimeLightning beat the Kraken in overtime: Victor Hedman's winnerLightning schedule: Canucks Saturday and a Western Conference runCollege football weekend: Florida at Texas, FSU at Miami, and a stacked slateSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

The Rays play ALCS Game 3 in Cleveland at 1 p.m. today, moved up because of bad weather, and Rick and Steve open with the series, the NLCS, and a Dodgers "conspiracy theory." With the Brewers up 4-2 in the eighth inning of NLCS Game 3 as they recorded and on the verge of a 3-0 series lead (and Dave Roberts leaving Blake Snell in too long, which lets Kevin Cash off the hook), the guys picture a small-market World Series, with a stop to remember that the movie Major League was filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium, where the Packers used to play a game each year and the Bucs visited. Back in the ALCS, Griffin Jacks gets the ball in Game 3 with Nick Martinez available in relief and likely to start Game 4 on Friday, and Rasmussen on Saturday. They also congratulate Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls, both Gold Glove finalists (Walls is up against Bobby Witt Jr.), Junior Caminero as a finalist for the Players Choice AL Outstanding Player award, and Shane McClanahan as a Comeback Player of the Year nominee. The Rays need at least one win in Cleveland, and the hosts discuss how the Guardians struggled at home this year, why an early lead matters, and how a sloppy fielding moment helped Tampa Bay in Game 2.Then Rick takes on the question that comes up every time the Rays host a postseason game: is Tampa Bay a bad sports market? After the upper deck was opened for the first time since 2016 and crowds were in the low-to-mid 30,000s for Game 2, New York radio hosts were quick to pile on. Rick explains why he disagrees: mid-range seats at $150 each, parking, and food turn a game into a $500 night for two and $1,000 for a family of four, in a service and tourism economy with a transient population and plenty of fans who root for the teams they grew up with. He talks about how pro sports have priced out the average fan (Packers, Steelers, and Canadiens fans filling the seats Tampa Bay season ticket holders sell), why people shouldn't tell others how to spend their money, and the pull of an 85-inch TV at home. Steve adds that winning cures most of it, noting that Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and the Braves once struggled too, and the guys end with the greed of professional sports and a nod to the Lightning's marketing.The final stretch turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield wasn't at practice, Todd Bowles said he was scheduled to throw Wednesday afternoon, and Jalen Daniels handled the starting quarterback's press conference. Rick wouldn't be surprised if Baker returns to practice on Friday and is listed as questionable, explains Baker's "50 percent of me is better than 100 percent of somebody else" mindset, and weighs the argument for waiting until the Carolina division game against the argument for playing him now. They break down why the Steelers game is so important in a division where nobody has more than two wins, how a Deron Bland drop saved Daniels from a costly throw in Dallas, a tougher Pittsburgh defense with T.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers' history in Tampa, and Bucky Irving firing up his offensive line before the Cowboys game because he was "so tired of losing." The Lightning host the Kraken at 7 p.m. looking to bounce back from the loss at the Rangers.Segments:Rays-Guardians Game 3 moved to 1 p.m. in ClevelandNLCS update: Brewers on the verge of a 3-0 lead and the Dodgers conspiracy theoryA small-market World Series? Milwaukee County Stadium and Major LeagueGriffin Jacks starts Game 3: the pitching plan for the weekendGold Glove finalists Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls; Caminero and McClanahan honorsWhat the Rays need in ClevelandIs Tampa Bay a bad sports market? Ticket prices, a service economy, and winningBaker Mayfield's thumb: will he play against the Steelers?Why the Steelers game matters in the NFC SouthBucky Irving's fire and Aaron Rodgers' history in TampaLightning vs. the Kraken tonightSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

We have a series. The Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 in ALCS Game 2 to even the best-of-seven at one game apiece, and Rick and Steve walk through a nervy night at Tropicana Field. Parker Messick, the Plant City native, kept the Rays in check and got a couple of double plays until a pair of Rays challenges overturned one, Chandler Simpson (back in the lineup) beat out a high chopper, Victor Mesa hustled to third when nobody covered it, and Jose Ramirez let a Ben Williamson grounder skip through his legs for a 1-0 lead. Liam Hicks then ripped a slider to center for a 3-0 advantage. Freddy Peralta did the rest, throwing the fastest pitches of his career with more than 70 percent fastballs, working out of traffic with a changeup he couldn't control, and extending a run in which he has won eight straight starts and allowed one run or none in every outing. Brian Baker earned his 34th consecutive save, and Steve has the stat of the night: the Rays are 89-0 when leading after eight innings this season, including the postseason, a mark only eight other teams since 1900 have matched.A big chunk of the show is Rick's defense of Kevin Cash against after-the-fact criticism of his lineup choices, from the Chandler Simpson-against-lefties debate to Taylor Walls' glove, plus whether the Game 1 decision to send Rasmussen out for the seventh had anything to do with Blake Snell (Steve and Rick both say no). They look ahead to Game 3 in Cleveland on Thursday at a 6 p.m. start, why the 2-3-2 format makes that game so important (the team that wins it takes the series about 70 percent of the time), the odd choice of Griffin Jacks over Nick Martinez to start it, and how much the Rays miss Shane McClanahan. They also trade views on who closes if Baker is unavailable (Kevin Kelly, Cam Boozer, a high-velocity Hopkins, or Ian Seymour), why the "big three" bats of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero still haven't broken out, a Mutombo-style finger wag, and the cost of postseason tickets and what that means for the crowd (and whether Game 6 on Monday could start at 5 p.m.).Then it's the Bucs. The President was set to attend Sunday's Steelers game and isn't now, which has Rick relieved about traffic and security, and Mike Alstott gets some love as one of the most popular athletes in the area after hyping the Trop crowd. The big question is Baker Mayfield: he'll try to throw this week, Todd Bowles says Jalon Daniels is the starter "right now," and Rick explains why a competitor like Baker doesn't want to watch someone else do his job, while also noting that Daniels got away with a near-disastrous throw in Dallas that would have been a pick-six had it not been dropped. The show closes with the Lightning's 4-1 loss at the Rangers (outscored 9-2 by New York in two games but undefeated against everyone else), their four-game win streak ending, and a schedule that's all Western Conference teams for the rest of October.Segments:Rays beat the Guardians 3-1 to even the ALCSHow the Rays scored: Messick's double plays, Simpson's infield hit, Ramirez's error, Hicks' two-run singleFreddy Peralta's fastball-heavy night and his streakDefending Kevin Cash: lineup decisions, second-guessing, and Rasmussen in Game 1Game 3 preview: Griffin Jacks, the 2-3-2 odds, and the absence of McClanahanThe Rays' pitching development and Brian Baker's 89-0 perfection after eight inningsWho closes if Baker is out, and where the big three bats standFan experience: ticket prices, attendance, and the Game 6 start timeBucs vs. Steelers preview: no presidential visit, Mike Alstott's popularity, Team Tampa BayBaker Mayfield's attempt to return and Jalon Daniels' near-mistake in DallasLightning fall 4-1 at the Rangers and look aheadSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza

If you had Guardians in four, you're looking pretty good. Cleveland won its fourth straight postseason game with a 7-3 victory in ALCS Game 1 at Tropicana Field, and Rick and Steve go through what went wrong for the Rays: a first inning in which they scored twice but left the bases loaded, a stretch where 13 of 14 hitters went down, and Drew Rasmussen, who battled but wasn't dominant, giving up solo home runs to Chase DeLauter in the sixth and Patrick Bailey to start the seventh after Kevin Cash sent him back out. Former Ray Nate Lowe added big hits against a shaky bullpen (Cam Boozer was fine, Tyler Wells struggled after a long layoff). They also cover the scary top-of-the-ninth collision between Junior Caminero and Johnny DeLuca, Jonathan Aranda's perfect first-inning sacrifice bunt (his first of the year), Cash's platoon lineup that sat Chandler Simpson, Richie Palacios, and Liam Hicks, and why Rick says the Guardians, who rarely strike out and put constant pressure on a defense, play a lot like the Rays. Game 2 is tonight with Freddy Peralta against Plant City's Parker Messick, and the hosts remind everyone that this Cleveland team just won four straight after losing the first two to the White Sox, and the series isn't going to be easy.Then it's the Bucs, who were back at work with limited availability. Rick spoke with Alex Anzalone and Zyon McCollum and says Tampa Bay is starting to forge an identity: a defense that stops the run (second in the league), forces turnovers, and mixes man and zone coverage, plus a running game built around Bucky Irving and the offensive line. They dig into how Anzalone struggled early wearing the green dot helmet communicator after Lavonte David's retirement, how he's gotten faster and more comfortable, and how he sealed the Dallas win on a hustle interception after the Cowboys' 99-yard drive. Steve and Rick also talk about how much the Bucs miss Mike Evans after his big night in San Francisco, with the 49ers now 5-0 and looking like the best team in the NFC.Plus: the NFC South is wide open now that the Ravens rallied past the Falcons (no one in the division has more than two wins), what Todd Bowles is preaching about adversity, and how the Bucs might use the Steelers game to reach Carolina with a chance at the division lead. The Lightning, winners of four straight, play the Rangers tonight without Igor Shesterkin, and Nikita Kucherov is six points from passing Steven Stamkos for the franchise scoring lead, which sparks a debate over the greatest Lightning player of all time. The hosts close with the "low IQ" state of modern hockey and football, and a pitch for AI face shields in the NFL.Segments:Guardians beat the Rays 7-3 in ALCS Game 1Where it went wrong: bases loaded in the first, Rasmussen in the seventh, and a bullpen layoffCaminero-DeLuca collision, Aranda's sacrifice bunt, and Cash's platoon lineupGame 2 preview: Freddy Peralta vs. Parker MessickBucs' emerging identity: defense, the run game, and Alex Anzalone's growth with the green dotMissing Mike Evans, and the 49ers at 5-0Lightning at the Rangers, no Shesterkin, and Kucherov chasing StamkosLow-IQ hockey and football, AI face shields, and Washington's clock managementRavens beat the Falcons; the NFC South picture and the Steelers game aheadSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza