The Cleveland Guardians fought and tried, but they couldn’t win after Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. The Tampa Bay Rays took three straight to complete the comeback and win the series 4-2, advancing to the Fall Classic.
For the Guardians, it was another crushing elimination, especially because they felt they were closer to the Rays than they were to the 2024 New York Yankees, the last time they fell in the AL Championship Series.
Analyst Ken Carman watched Game 6 closely, much like just about every Guardians fan in the world. He couldn’t help but notice some of their old, problematic habits and trends.
“They don’t have the firepower that Tampa has. I understand that when it comes to their lineup. Shawn Armstrong starts off great, and then I see Joey Cantillo warming up after Herrin and Festa, and you’re just like, ‘Why didn’t you go to Joey Cantillo?’ Fans have very little, if any, confidence in Festa or Herrin. They have some confidence in Joey Cantillo. They have some confidence in the other guys. Everything that I had seen when they lose a game, or when they were down 2-0 against the White Sox, all that stuff came back,” Carman said.
“Everything that I had seen when they lose a game, or when they were down 2-0 against the White Sox, all that stuff came back.”
➡️ @KenCarman w/ @SportsBoyTony on the #Guardians’ old problems resurfacing as their season came to an end. pic.twitter.com/BofSQ5iwsW
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 20, 2026
His first observation was spot on. The Guardians simply do not have the offensive firepower of the Rays, even though there are some very talented hitters in Cleveland. They have no Junior Caminero or Yandy Diaz, though, although they did have them at some point in their career. That makes the defeat even more painful.
Overall, however, the Rays offense showed why they are more than just their sluggers. They make consistent contact, they play hard, and they know how to work pitchers.
Additionally, Carman talked about manager Stephen Vogt’s decision not to go with Joey Cantillo on a long outing after Shawn Armstrong. The left-hander had been pitching very well in a bulk relief role in the regular season’s stretch run.
Coming back to Armstrong to try and buy another out in the second inning was probably a mistake. Not going with Cantillo as a bulk guy was also a questionable call, since he is already familiar with the role.
It’s too late for regrets now, but you could see that it just wasn’t the Guardians’ night when both Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith surrendered two-run homers. The Rays were just better in all areas.
NEXT: Jo Adell Gets Honest About Guardians' Season-Ending Loss
