The Guardians don’t exactly have a postseason identity crisis, but they do have a fresh batch of October newcomers who could shape how far this run goes. Cleveland’s roster has plenty of familiar faces - Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, Tanner Bibee, Cade Smith, Gavin Williams - and a good chunk of this group has already logged playoff experience.
Kwan alone has 84 postseason at-bats. Smith and Hunter Gaddis have combined for 23 1/3 postseason innings.
Chase DeLauter even made his big league debut in last year’s postseason, and Petey Halpin got his first taste of October in last year’s series against the Tigers.
But this season brings a different wrinkle: a few players are headed into the postseason for the first time with the Guardians, and they could be the ones who swing things in Cleveland’s favor.
Jo Adell was the clearest example of that energy when the Guardians clinched on Friday. While the celebration around the clubhouse looked fairly subdued from some corners - Cade Smith greeting Patrick Bailey behind the plate, Austin Hedges bounding out of the dugout and turning toward teammates - Adell’s reaction stood out. He threw his hands up and worked the room with high fives everywhere.
As The Athletic’s Zack Mesiel pointed out, Adell hasn’t been in postseason baseball since he was with the Angels’ now-defunct Rookie League team in 2017. Now he’s getting his first real shot under October lights, and Cleveland is going to need him to deliver. The Guardians have gotten the middle-of-the-order presence they expected when they traded for him, and even if he’s been much better against lefties, they’ve kept him in the lineup every day.
His first signature postseason moment feels close.
Daniel Espino is another name worth watching. On Thursday, he opened the Guardians’ clinching win over the Red Sox with a scoreless first inning, then Joey Cantillo followed with five scoreless innings in bulk relief. Espino’s path here has been a long one - more than three seasons lost to injuries - but he finally reached the majors earlier this year.
The ride hasn’t been spotless. In his outing before the one against Boston, he allowed three innings in an inning.
Still, the results have been loud enough to matter: 24 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. With Cleveland still sorting out its postseason pitching plans, Espino and Cantillo made their case in a big way.
Then there’s Foster Griffin, whose season ended with a six-inning start on Wednesday that produced a never-before-seen pitching line. The Guardians brought him in to be their No. 3 postseason starter, though that idea came before he posted a 5.19 ERA in nine starts with Cleveland.
There was probably always going to be some regression, and Griffin has also had some bad luck mixed in. Even so, he still looks like part of the postseason picture, if not necessarily in the role Cleveland first imagined. If he does get a start, it may not be the kind that runs deep - Vogt has been aggressive all year - but a solid three-inning stretch could still leave the Guardians in good shape for the middle innings.
In Other News...
Austin Hedges Had An Emotional Message Cleveland Fans Will Feel
Austin Hedges let the emotion show after Cleveland wrapped up its third straight AL Central title, and it fit a player who has spent six seasons giving this clubhouse more than just innings behind the plate. The veteran catcher has long been valued for his defense and presence around the team, and this year he has added a .249 average with six home runs while remaining part of the fabric of a group that keeps finding ways to win.
The Guardians now turn the page to October, with the American League Division Series set to begin Oct. 3 at Progressive Field. For a team that has built its identity on continuity and buy-in, Hedges' reaction felt like a reminder of how much this run means to the players who have lived through it, even as the next round brings a fresh challenge and a much bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Still Face One Uncomfortable October Roster Call
The Guardians are down to the final housekeeping before October baseball begins, and it is not the sort of decision a club wants hanging around this late. Cleveland has to trim its active roster from 28 to 26 before the ALDS, which means every extra bullpen arm and bench piece is suddenly under the microscope as the bracket looms.
Craig Yoho and Daniel Schneemann have emerged as the most obvious names in the conversation, a reminder that even after a season of getting this far, the postseason can still ask for a hard choice or two. The final call has not been made yet, and for a team trying to line up the right mix for a short series, the last cuts may matter more than they look on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Parker Messick Just Gave Guardians Fans Another Reason To Love Him
The Guardians wrapped up their third straight AL Central title with a win over the Royals and a White Sox loss, and rookie Parker Messick was right in the middle of the celebration with his teammates. It has been a breakout year for the left-hander, who has settled in as one of Clevelands most dependable starters since his debut in 2025 and has given the club steady innings throughout the stretch run.
Messicks season line tells part of the story, with a 12-9 record and a 2.55 ERA underscoring how important he has become to the rotation. He is expected to start the regular season finale and then take on a key role in the American League Division Series, giving Guardians fans one more reason to feel good about where this team stands heading into October. [Read more 🡒]