The Tampa Bay Rays are behind in their series with the Cleveland Guardians. It was a 7-3 victory for the Guardians on Monday. The top of the lineup for the Guardians was great, with Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLauter combining for six hits, two RBIs, and five runs.

The top five bats in the lineup were amazing against the Rays. Steven Kwan was just one for five, but then Ramirez went three for five with an RBI and two runs scored. He was followed by the lineup by DeLauter, who went three for four with a walk and a home run. He scored three runs and drove in a run. Jo Adell then drove in two runs while Nathaniel Lowe drove in another two.

Ramierz is the biggest bat in the lineup, and pitchers often pitched around him. This past year, he hit .235 with a .320 on-base percentage. He also had 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in just 125 games. While pitching around Ramirez is common, the Rays can no longer afford to do that with how the guys behind him are hitting.

Chase DeLauter is too much protection for Ramirez

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter (24) hits a double against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in game one of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field.
Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The Rays can no longer pitch around Ramirez with how the lineup is hitting so far in the playoffs. First of all, it could put two players on base with how Steven Kwan has been at the top of the lineup. He is hitting just .208 in the playoffs, but is tied for second on the team with five runs scored while having a .321 on-base percentage. Pitching to Ramirez can be a bad decision, considering he is hitting .348 with a .444 on-base percentage in the playoffs. He also has eight RBIs and eight runs scored.

Article Continues Below

Still, the players behind him have the ability to create runs in the Rays decide Ramirez is too dangerous. That starts with DeLauter. He is hitting .333 with a .407 on-base percentage so far in the playoffs. Further, he has a home run, three RBIs, and five runs scored so far. Right behind him is Jo Adell. While Adell leads the team with ten strikeouts, he is hitting .250 with a .333 on-base percentage. Further, he has eight RBIs. Finally, Nathaniel Lowe sits behind Adell. Lowe is hitting .250 with a .400 on-base percentage. He also has three RBIS and a run scored. With three solid bats behind Ramirez, plus the protection of Kwan in front of him, the pitching around of Ramirez can no longer happen.

The Rays will send out Freddy Peralta in Game 2. He has a solid history against members of the Guardians. Current members of the Guardians are just seven-for-38 all time against Peralta, with Ramirez going two-for-six with three walks. He has never faced DeLauter, but Jo Adell is 0-for-3 against him with two strikeouts. Game 2 between the Rays and Guardians is set for Tuesday night, with first pitch at 8 pm ET.