The Guardians head into Game Two of the ALDS with a short list of problems and a clear path if they can solve them fast. First pitch is set for 5 PM ET, and the biggest question hanging over the day is whether Cleveland can finally crack Anthony Kay and Sean Burke after both have given them fits this season. Kay has worked to a 1.35 ERA against the Guardians, while Burke has been even nastier at 1.04.
Burke is the one to watch if Cleveland wants to flip the script. He has leaned heavily on his four-seamer and cutter against the Guardians, and the results have been all over the place depending on the pitch.
His four-seamers have produced a .278 wOBA, while his cutters have held them to .077. The sinker has been the pitch Cleveland can do real damage against, and the Guardians’ better looks against him have come from Austin Hedges, Petey Halpin, Steven Kwan, Patrick Bailey, Brayan Rocchio, and Chase DeLauter.
Burke doesn’t throw a changeup, which leaves Cleveland with a pretty direct scouting report: be ready for the fastball/cutter mix.
Kay is the other hurdle, and the Guardians still have not solved him this season. He is not running elite numbers overall, sitting at a 4.44 ERA and 4.75 FIP, and the assignment for Cleveland’s left-handed bats is simple.
Chase DeLauter, Jose Ramirez, Jo Adell, David Fry and Angel Martinez need to make him work early, force him into the zone, and turn those first few innings into a fight. If Kay settles in quickly, that’s a bad sign for Cleveland.
Gavin Williams brings his own uncertainty into the game after a lengthy layoff, and the White Sox already showed they can make him uncomfortable by spoiling third-strike pitches the last time out. For Williams, the key is execution: land the strikeout pitch, keep the delivery consistent, and trust the stuff.
There is also a bullpen angle here. If Williams runs into trouble in the fourth or fifth, White Sox hitters bring enough left-handed balance to make Foster Griffin an appealing option. The Guardians have seen plenty of Herrin and Sabrowski this year, so Griffin could give them a different look if the timing is right and Miguel Vargas is not waiting immediately in the matchup.
The setting matters too. Afternoon shadows could drag down offense early, and there’s at least some question about whether Game Two will be a sellout with fans juggling work, economic pressures, and maybe a little playoff burnout.
Still, the bigger issue is on the field. Cleveland needs a steady approach, a willingness to work counts, and enough discipline to force the pitchers into the zone.
If the Guardians can draw at least four walks and hit at least one home run, they give themselves a real shot to leave with a win. If not, they could be heading to Chicago with the series in a tough spot.
In Other News...
Guardians Send Clear Message With Urgent Game 2 Lineup Shakeup
The Guardians came into Game 2 against the White Sox with a noticeably different look, making several lineup adjustments that suggested urgency after the opener. Patrick Bailey was behind the plate and Nathaniel Lowe handled first base, while Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell were shifted into different defensive spots as Cleveland also rearranged the batting order.
Chicago answered with changes of its own, inserting Andrew Benintendi, Sam Antonacci and Tristan Peters while moving Kyle Teel up to the No. 2 spot. With both clubs altering the mix on the fly, the second game had the feel of a quick reset, with Cleveland clearly trying to spark something early and keep the series from settling into one team's preferred rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Real First Base Problem
Clevelands run to a third straight AL Central title came with plenty of familiar caveats, but first base has emerged as one of the clearest offseason questions on the roster. Kyle Manzardo looked like part of the answer after his breakout in 2025, only to stumble offensively in 2026 and wind up back in Triple-A. The Guardians responded at the trade deadline by adding Nathaniel Lowe and Jo Adell, a sign they were willing to patch the spot quickly rather than wait for the bats to come around.
Now the bigger issue is what comes next. Manzardos future in Cleveland is uncertain, and prospect Ralphy Velazquez is expected to take over first base, which puts the organization in a position it likely did not expect when the season started. The Guardians have survived roster uncertainty before, but this one has the feel of a move that could reshape how they handle the position for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Need Someone Else To Deliver Their Big October Moment
The Guardians had plenty of pitching in place for a familiar playoff script, but the first game of the ALDS turned on the kind of offensive drought that can make even a solid performance feel hollow. Chicagos 3-0 win was driven by Munetaka Murakamis two-run homer, while Cleveland spent the night trying to solve a parade of White Sox arms, including Anthony Kay and Sean Burke, and never found the timely hit it needed.
Clevelands players pointed to the challenge of facing multiple starters in one game, even as they leaned on the comfort of having seen this Chicago pitching staff during the regular season. The bigger issue is less about recognition than execution, because the Guardians now need someone beyond the mound work to supply the defining October swing if they want this series to tilt back their way. [Read more 🡒]