Rays vs. Guardians Prediction: ALCS Game 5 Odds & Preview

With the series tied 1-1, the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays meet in a pivotal Game 5 of the ALCS at 5:08 p.m. ET on Sunday at Progressive Field in Cleveland on TBS.

Get my Rays vs. Guardians prediction based on the latest MLB odds:

Rays vs. Guardians Prediction for Game 5 ALCS

• Rays ML

It’s Tampa Bay’s moneyline or nothing for my Rays vs. Guardians prediction ahead of Game 5 of the ALCS.

The Rays will turn to their ace in the season’s biggest game. Drew Rasmussen was nearly perfect in Game 1 of the ALCS before giving up two home runs in the sixth and seventh innings. This followed eight shutout innings against the New York Yankees in the ALDS.

Rasmussen was one of the league’s best pitchers in the regular season, posting a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts with 174 strikeouts across 172 innings. He posted a Stuff+ of 110 and a Location+ of 106 this year.

The Guardians will counter with Parker Messick, who was honestly unlucky last time out. He allowed three unearned runs off six hits across five innings. The rookie left-hander was brilliant in the regular season (2.56 ERA), but he’s shown signs of fatigue in the postseason. Messick hasn’t logged more than 15 outs in any of his three starts.

Cleveland’s bullpen is more taxed at this stage, especially after going the distance in the ALDS.

Between Rasmussen and a fresher bullpen, the Rays have enough to win a pivotal Game 5.

Prediction: Rays ML

Rays vs. Guardians Odds: ALCS, Game 5

• Rays moneyline: -130
• Guardians moneyline: +110
• Total: 6.5