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By Aaron Coloma
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Tampa Bay Rays All-Star designated hitter Yandy Diaz made a bold prediction heading into ALDS Game 6 against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Rays have won each of the last two games after falling behind, 2-1, in the series, but consecutive wins have them just one win away from the World Series. With a crucial Game 6 coming Monday, Diaz has full confidence in his team to get the job done.
“It's a great opportunity," Diaz said. "All of us are thinking of it. But it all ends tomorrow. We're going to win tomorrow.”
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Diaz's confidence isn't misplaced, as his team has looked great over the last two games and a return to Tampa for Game 6 spells disaster for the Guardians. The designated hitter is having a monstrous postseason, logging 11 hits in 35 at-bats, collecting five extra-base hits including a Game 5 homer while tallying two RBIs.
He has an .847 OPS in the postseason, which leads players on his team who have played in five or more games since the beginning of October.
The rest of the team has reason to be confident as well, as they finished the year with an American League-leading 98 wins and took five of six games against the Guardians during the regular season.
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What Does the Rays' Matchup Against the Guardians Monday Look Like?
The Rays have Freddy Peralta on the mound for Game 6, which is already a great start for them. Peralta, since arriving with the team at the trade deadline, has been one of their best pitchers. He had a 3.25 ERA through 10 starts with the team following the deal, striking out 43 batters in 55.1 innings pitched.
He has three appearances under his belt in the postseason, allowing just one earned run through 11.1 innings of work while striking out nine batters.
Peralta will duel Shawn Armstrong, who appeared in 41 games for the Guardians this year, striking out 34 batters in 35.1 innings pitched. He won't be the only pitcher on the mound, though, as the Guardians plan for a bullpen day facing elimination. Gavin Williams isn't available, per manager Stephen Vogt, so they'll hope their bullpen can extend the series to seven games.
The sixth game of the series begins Monday at 8:08 p.m. ET.
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