Today · 5:00 PM ETOfficial lineupAL East / AL Central

Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians Preview

October 18, 2026

Starting pitchers, lineup status, recent form and weather at Progressive Field.

5:00 PM ET · Progressive FieldStats updated Oct 16, 5:00 PM ETLineups confirmed Oct 16, 5:00 PM

T-Score56

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First pitch 5:00 PM ET

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T-Score52

First pitch 5:00 PM ET

Matchup at a glance

PitcherStat calculation

CategoryComparisonWhy

Starting pitcherRaysMartinez owns the stronger overall starter profile, with the higher P-Score and better strikeout and baserunner rates.

Offense vs handRaysTampa owns a .752 OPS vs RHP, 4th in MLB; Cleveland ranks 24th vs RHP.

LineupRaysThe confirmed Tampa order includes 6 hitters with an OPS above .750 against right-handed pitching.

WeatherModerate impactA 17 mph wind could modestly increase carry on fly balls.

Starting pitchers

Nick Martinez RHP

Tampa Bay Rays

2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)

ERA

3.10

32nd

WHIP

1.09

26th

K/9

5.45

221st

BB/9

1.30

1st

P-Score59i

FIP

3.96

HR/9

1.10

92nd

OPS/R

0.705

180.0

2026 ERA splits

Home ERA3.90

Road ERA2.38

Last 5 starts

Shawn Armstrong RHP

Cleveland Guardians

2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)

ERA

4.58

WHIP

1.39

K/9

8.66

BB/9

4.84

FIP

4.43

HR/9

1.02

OPS/R

0.748

35.1

2026 ERA splits

Home ERA5.71

Road ERA3.50

Last 5 starts

How the starters differ

·Armstrong strikes out 3.2 more batters per nine innings.

·Martinez allows fewer baserunners, with a 1.09 WHIP compared with 1.39.

·Martinez enters with a 3.10 ERA compared with Armstrong's 4.58.

·Martinez carries a 2.38 road ERA, compared with Armstrong's 5.71 mark at home.

Advanced starter metricsERA−, FIP, WAR, career vs opponent

Metric	Martinez	Armstrong	Note
ERA−	74	111	Park- and league-adjusted; 100 is average.
FIP	3.96	4.43
WAR	2.9	0.0	Season value.

How the lineups match the starters' pitch mix

Pitch data coverage: partial. Usage and velocity only.

Martinez arsenal

Pitch	Usage	Velo
Sinker	32%	92.4
Changeup	26%	78.3
Cutter	22%	89.2
Four-seam	13%	92.7
Curveball	4%	80.0
Slider	4%	85.2

Armstrong arsenal

Pitch	Usage	Velo
Four-seam	31%	93.5
Sweeper	28%	84.5
Cutter	24%	90.0
Sinker	17%	93.7

Team OPS vs opposing starter's hand

Rays vs RHP (Shawn Armstrong)

4th

in MLB

0.752OPS

.600.700.800.9001.000

Guardians vs RHP (Nick Martinez)

24th

in MLB

0.706OPS

.600.700.800.9001.000

Lineup strength vs today's starter

Weighted by batting-order spot. Season rates are regressed toward league average before they enter the model.

Updated Oct 16, 5:00 PM ET

.756

+43 ptsOPS edge

CLE

.713

Clear edge: TB

Full lineup comparison

Lineups

Official lineupOfficial batting order.Full lineup page

Tampa Bay RaysOfficial lineupvs RHP Shawn Armstrong

#HitterPosH-ScoreOPSHRvs RHPVs Armstrong (BvP)

1Yandy DíazRDH78.80522.8160-for-1Very small sample

2Jonathan ArandaL1B67.79222.8370-for-1Very small sample

3Chandler SimpsonLLF43.6890.7181 PAVery small sample

4Junior CamineroR3B87.88442.8710-for-2Very small sample

5Liam HicksLC61.80118.9021-for-2Very small sample

6Victor Mesa Jr.LRF70.82514.811No MLB historyNo history

7Jonny DeLucaRRF47.72911.7730-for-1Very small sample

8Richie PalaciosL2B49.70410.748No MLB historyNo history

9Taylor WallsSSS34.6072.6441-for-1Very small sample

1Yandy Díaz DH · R.293 / .805 · 22 HRvs hand .816 · 0-for-1 · Very small sample78H-Score 2Jonathan Aranda 1B · L.274 / .792 · 22 HRvs hand .837 · 0-for-1 · Very small sample67H-Score 3Chandler Simpson LF · L.306 / .689 · 0 HRvs hand .718 · 1 PA · Very small sample43H-Score 4Junior Caminero 3B · R.276 / .884 · 42 HRvs hand .871 · 0-for-2 · Very small sample87H-Score 5Liam Hicks C · L.284 / .801 · 18 HRvs hand .902 · 1-for-2 · Very small sample61H-Score 6Victor Mesa Jr. RF · L.260 / .825 · 14 HRvs hand .811 · No MLB history · No history70H-Score 7Jonny DeLuca RF · R.266 / .729 · 11 HRvs hand .773 · 0-for-1 · Very small sample47H-Score 8Richie Palacios 2B · L.235 / .704 · 10 HRvs hand .748 · No MLB history · No history49H-Score 9Taylor Walls SS · S.222 / .607 · 2 HRvs hand .644 · 1-for-1 · Very small sample34H-Score

Cleveland GuardiansOfficial lineupvs RHP Nick Martinez

#HitterPosH-ScoreOPSHRvs RHPVs Martinez (BvP)

1Steven KwanLLF53.7313.7871-for-1Very small sample

2José RamírezS3B60.68812.6250-for-8Very small sample

3Chase DeLauterLRF79.82016.8081-for-3Very small sample

4Jo AdellRRF63.69923.5932 PAVery small sample

5Nathaniel LoweL1B65.76117.8851-for-3Very small sample

6Travis BazzanaL2B61.74315.8460-for-2Very small sample

7Patrick BaileySC49.60710.7311-for-3Very small sample

8Petey HalpinLCF31.5944.6760-for-2Very small sample

9Brayan RocchioSSS54.70415.7490-for-2Very small sample

Team comparison

Results

TB·

CLE

+3788th

Run differential

+29119th

98–64 Record85–77

Last 10 games

Tampa Bay Rays Recent form unavailable

Cleveland Guardians Recent form unavailable

2026 head-to-head

Season Series

0—0

0 Games Played

Frequently asked

Who is starting for the Rays?+

Nick Martinez is listed as the starter.

Who is starting for the Guardians?+

Shawn Armstrong is listed as the starter.

What time does the game start?+

5:00 PM ET at Progressive Field.

Where is the game being played?+

Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians.

Are the lineups confirmed?+

Yes. Both batting orders on this page are official (posted Oct 16, 5:00 PM ET).

How do the starters compare on P-Score?+

P-Score is available for one starter only.