# Yandy Díaz and Víctor Mesa Jr. open the ALCS with the Rays against Cleveland

**Date:** 10/12/2026

Cubans Yandy Díaz and Víctor Mesa Jr. enter the American League Championship Series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 12, 2026, hosting the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field, according to MLB.com’s series preview and related coverage.

Díaz, the 35-year-old designated hitter from Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, finished the regular season 24 percent better than league average with 22 home runs and one of the majors’ lowest whiff rates. Mesa Jr., the 25-year-old outfielder called up in May and the hero of the go-ahead homer that swept the Yankees in the Division Series, closed the year with a 1.015 OPS over the final month.

Tampa Bay lined up Drew Rasmussen to start Game 1. The Rays took five of six regular-season meetings with Cleveland, including a July sweep at home. For both Cubans, the series marks their first ALCS appearance with this franchise since Tampa Bay’s 2020 World Series run.