Yandy Diaz's cocky World Series declaration could be lasting image of Guardians' postseason run

There’s perhaps no player more symbolic of the modern iteration of the Tampa Bay Rays than Yandy Díaz. He may not be on the same level as Evan Longoria, but he’s in the top-5 in franchise history in pretty much every offensive category, and has now played in 33 postseason games (the most in Tampa history). 

When he talks, the Rays listen. But, on Sunday, he said something that everyone in Cleveland heard. After the Rays took a commanding 3-2 lead on the Guardians with a win on Sunday night, Díaz made an emphatic statement by saying the Rays are going to win Game 6 and make it to the World Series. 

There’s bulletin board material, and then there’s that. And it’s not like that was coming from some random player who doesn’t mean much. Not only is Díaz destined for the Rays’ Hall of Fame, but he also started his career in Cleveland before being traded away after not getting a fair shake with the Guardians. 

And Díaz’s declaration makes sense. The Guardians are going to have to rely on some pitching madness later tonight after they used Parker Messick on Sunday, while the Rays are going to be able to go with Freddy Peralta. 

Yandy Díaz made it know that he thinks the Rays are going to win later today

Although the Guardians got an initial postseason win over Díaz win a 2-0 sweep over the Rays in the 2022 American League Wild Card (a series where Díaz went 0-for-10), he’s gotten the last laugh so far in this series to the tune of a 1.000 OPS with two doubles and a homer in five games against Cleveland. 

He’s been even better as of late (5-for-10 in Games 4 and 5) and has recorded a hit in seven of the Rays’ eight postseason games this year. As he goes, so does Tampa.

Chances are he’s also going to be licking his lips at today’s pitching matchup since the Guardians are likely going to need to cover the middle innings of the start with some combination of Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi and Joey Cantillo. 

The Rays also have even more of a vested interest in winning later tonight since a Guardians win would both extend the series and put ace Gavin Williams in play for a winner-take-all Game 7. 

It may seem hard to remember given where we’re at in the series, but it wasn’t that long ago that the Guardians were up 2-1 in the series and seemed to have figured out the Rays’ offense. But then the rain came and the Rays were able to right the ship. 

Díaz seems to think the Rays have done enough to advance to the World Series later today. It’ll be on the Guardians to prove him wrong. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow