The Guardians are down to a brutal kind of math now. After getting shut out yesterday with their ace on the mound, today feels like the final checkpoint for any real optimism.
The setup is simple enough: if Cleveland can’t beat Jackson Jobe with Gavin Williams on the mound while desperately needing a series win, then the playoff path is basically gone. No matter how badly the rest of the AL plays, that’s the kind of game a team in this spot has to take. Lose today, and the season turns into something else entirely.
There was at least one bright spot yesterday. Austin Peterson made his debut and didn’t allow a run, and if Cleveland needs another spot start, the case has been made for Peterson over Allen.
The injury picture still isn’t clean, either. Chase DeLauter remains day-to-day, though he is improving.
The issue is that his wrist is still “stiff and sore.” That leaves plenty unresolved.
There’s also a new Guardians prospect segment to keep an eye on. Matt Seese has started a regular feature on Guardians’ prospects on the writers’/friends’ podcast Disgusting Baseball, and his first episode is already out.
Elsewhere around MLB, the Guardians got a little help from the standings, but not enough to change the larger picture. The Orioles, Rangers, White Sox and Astros all lost yesterday, while the Blue Jays won and moved into the lead for the third wild card because they hold the tiebreaker over Cleveland.
Toronto’s remaining schedule is 3 against the Athletics, 6 against the Orioles, 3 against the Tigers, 3 against the Rangers and 3 against the Reds. Unless the Blue Jays stumble in series they should be favored to win, Cleveland is going to have a hard time catching them for the final wild card spot.
The White Sox are still collapsing, but the Guardians have not done much to benefit from it. That’s the frustrating part.
In Other News...
Guardians Get A Huge Opening As Orioles Gamble Already Looks Shaky
The Orioles took a shot on Luis Robert Jr. when they claimed him off waivers from the Mets, hoping the talent would be worth the risk as they chased down teams in the Wild Card race. Instead, the move has already turned into a setback, with Robert now on the 15-day injured list because of left hamstring discomfort after appearing in just three games. For a Baltimore club trying to make up ground, it is a rough turn at exactly the wrong time.
Cleveland, meanwhile, gets a cleaner look at the standings picture with the Orioles still sitting behind the Guardians and coming up next for a three-game series. Robert will not be part of that matchup, which strips some of the urgency from Baltimores latest gamble and leaves its roster decision hanging into the offseason. The Orioles still have to sort out his contract beyond this year, and the early signs suggest they may be headed toward a buyout rather than bringing him back on the club option. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cleveland Infielder's Death Revives An Overlooked Piece Of Team History
Joe Morgans death at 95 brings back a name that sits a little deeper in Cleveland baseball memory, but still belongs in the clubs history. Morgan played parts of several major league seasons, including a stretch with Cleveland, before moving on to a long baseball life that eventually included a stint as manager of the Boston Red Sox.
His most visible work came later, when he led Boston to a playoff run in 1988 during a four-season managerial tenure. For Cleveland fans, his passing is a reminder of how many former players and baseball men passed through the organization before finding another chapter elsewhere, and how those connections can surface again only when a life in the game comes to an end. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Rotation Decision They Cant Get Wrong
Joey Cantillos recent starts have put Cleveland in a familiar late-season spot, weighing performance against patience at a time when every outing carries more weight. The left-hander has had trouble keeping runners off base, and the Guardians are now looking hard at whether he still fits best in the rotation as they try to stay in the Wild Card hunt.
Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Ben Lively and Austin Peterson are all in the mix if Cleveland decides a change is needed. The Guardians have options, but this is the kind of rotation call that can shape the stretch run, especially for a club trying to squeeze every last bit of value out of its pitching staff without giving away innings it may need later. [Read more 🡒]