Guardians Rookie Is On An Absolute Tear In ALCS

The Cleveland Guardians lost Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night, but it was not because of Chase DeLauter. The rookie has been the most dangerous hitter in Cleveland’s lineup through the first two games against the Tampa Bay Rays, reaching base at a rate that is almost hard to believe. In Game 2, he reached base three times, drew two walks and delivered Cleveland’s only run with a hard hit double in the seventh inning of a 3-1 loss. That followed a three hit performance in Game 1 that helped the Guardians steal the opener at Tropicana Field.

With the series tied at one game apiece and heading to Progressive Field, stats show just how locked in DeLauter has been.

“DeLauter reached base 3x tonight (1-2 2B 2RBI 2BB) in game two of the ALCS. First two games of series: 4-6 3R 2(2B) 1HR 2RBI 3BB 1SO AVG .667 OBP .778 SLG 1.500 OPS 2.278,” Guardians Prospective wrote.

DeLauter reached base 3x tonight (1-2 2B 2RBI 2BB) in game two of the ALCS.

First two games of series:

4-6 3R 2(2B) 1HR 2RBI 3BB 1SO

AVG .667
OBP .778
SLG 1.500
OPS 2.278 https://t.co/Cn6Sn8j3vZ

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) October 14, 2026

His Game 1 performance set the tone. DeLauter went 3-4 with a homer, a double, a walk and three runs scored. He jumped on the first pitch of the sixth inning from Drew Rasmussen and sent it over the wall to get Cleveland on the board, then doubled in the eighth to set up Nathaniel Lowe’s go ahead single. He added a walk in the ninth and came around to score on Jo Adell’s two run double.

Game 2 was a tougher night for the Guardians as a whole, but DeLauter kept doing his part. He walked twice against Freddy Peralta, who otherwise shut Cleveland down over six scoreless innings. Then in the seventh, with Patrick Bailey on second base, the Rays brought in left-hander Ian Seymour to face the left-handed hitting DeLauter. It did not matter. DeLauter ripped a double to right field at 104.5 mph off the bat to drive in Bailey and cut the deficit to 3-1. His success against a lefty in a big spot is just another sign of how complete a hitter he has become.

This is not a surprise to anyone inside the Cleveland clubhouse. Nathaniel Lowe said after Game 1 that DeLauter’s at bats are incredibly polished and that his teammates joke about how rarely he takes a pitch that ends up being a strike. Lowe added that most players have to learn that kind of eye over time, but DeLauter seems to have had it from the moment he arrived. Stephen Vogt also predicted before the postseason that fans were going to see a very good version of DeLauter in October.

The Guardians will need him to stay hot as the series shifts to Cleveland. Game 3 is set for Thursday at Progressive Field, with Gavin Williams taking the mound. If DeLauter keeps getting on base at this pace, the rest of the lineup will have plenty of chances to help Cleveland take control of the series.