When it comes to the Guardians’ bullpen, the playoff plan starts with a simple idea: get the ball to Cade Smith and Erik Sabrowski as often as possible.
Those two sit in a class of their own in this group, and the clearest path through a postseason game is pretty direct. In the ideal version of Game 1, Parker Messick gives Cleveland at least six innings, Sabrowski handles one, and then Cade Smith takes over for the eighth and ninth.
Any extra outs Messick can squeeze out only make that finish easier to manage. If that script holds, there’s no real need to dip deeper into the bullpen.
With an off day on Sunday, the same approach can roll right into Monday with The Big Rig.
Of course, the playoffs rarely cooperate. That means the Guardians need fallback options, and the next tier starts with Gaddis, Espino, Cantillo, and Herrin.
Cantillo’s usage creates one wrinkle: if he works an inning in Game 1 or 2, it could cut into the effectiveness - or even the availability - of a Game 3 plan built around Joniel Espitillo (Dany Cantino? Jospino?).
That said, it’s not a disaster. Foster Griffin looks like a possible Game 3 answer, especially if he can be paired with Bibee or Cecconi.
In that setup, Cleveland would only need three or four innings from him.
Among the more experienced high-leverage arms, Gaddis and Herrin stand out. Neither has been especially sharp in those spots, but both have put together solid overall seasons and give the Guardians a look against hitters from both sides of the plate.
Espino belongs in that same conversation too. His overall numbers are the most attractive of the group after Cade Smith and Sabrowski, but he has thrown 0 high-leverage innings, and there’s real risk that the strike zone disappears and the walks pile up.
That kind of problem gets amplified fast in October. Still, he has handled back-to-back games this season, so there’s no issue with using him in Game 1 or 2 and then potentially bringing him back as an opener in Game 3 if the schedule demands it.
After that comes a group that includes Armstrong, Bibee, Cecconi, Festa, and Griffin. Of that bunch, Cecconi and Bibee are the most appealing bullpen options.
If Bibee only needs to go one inning, the idea is that he can reach back for a little extra velocity. Cecconi has also made a case for himself since moving to the bullpen; in 13.2 innings there, he owns a 3.55 xFIP, which makes him a reasonable option.
Griffin is the harder fit. In general, starters who succeed out of the bullpen in the postseason tend to have simpler repertoires and lean more on velocity, and that doesn’t really sound like his game.
Still, the door isn’t closed. If he shoves, so be it.
At the bottom of the list are the arms who don’t seem to have a real playoff role, at least for the ALDS. Yoho has struggled badly against the White Sox.
Logan Allen isn’t good enough to claim a postseason spot. And Aleman and Peterson, for now, just don’t bring the experience you’d want in a run like this.
Put it all together, and the blueprint is clear: find a way to get to Sabrowski and Cade Smith for the final nine outs as often as possible. Having two top-tier starters who only need to cover six innings gives Cleveland a real shot at doing that. There are a few other relievers who are good enough to use here and there, but that “here and there” part matters a lot in a short series.
In Other News...
Guardians Turn ALDS Opener Into A Full Progressive Field Event
The Guardians are turning their ALDS opener against the White Sox into more than just a baseball game. Before the first pitch at Progressive Field, Cleveland has lined up a full slate of pregame festivities, from musical performances and a military color guard to a flyover by the 910th Airlift Wing, while fans are being encouraged to show up in red and help set the tone for the postseason.
The ceremonial touches add a distinctly Cleveland feel to the night, with former closer Cody Allen handling the honorary first pitch and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward delivering the game ball. It is the kind of home playoff atmosphere the Guardians were hoping to create, one built to make Game 1 feel like an event long before the action starts on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Don't Need This Nolan Jones Reunion Right Now
Nolan Jones path has already taken a few detours since his time in Cleveland, and now he is on the open market again after becoming a minor league free agent. After being dealt from the Guardians to the White Sox and then on to the Mariners during the 2024 season, Jones never made it to the majors with Seattle, leaving his stock in a strange place as teams weigh whether there is still enough upside to chase.
For Cleveland, the timing makes this more of a luxury than a necessity. The Guardians had already tendered Jones a contract for 2026 that would have guaranteed a $2 million salary, but with outfield depth already part of the conversation and Jones coming off a rough stretch, a reunion does not feel like the move that solves a pressing need. If there is interest here, it is more about familiarity than fit, and that is usually not enough to justify a roster shuffle this early. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Coach Just Got Tied To A Brutal Orioles Debate
Craig Albernazs name has surfaced in an uncomfortable Orioles conversation after a frustrating season that ended with a 79-82 record and no postseason berth. The former Guardians coach was in charge in Baltimore in 2026, and the disappointment has only sharpened scrutiny around a roster full of young talent that never quite clicked, including Colton Cowser, Gunner Henderson and Jackson Holiday.
The latest flashpoint comes from Jim Palmer, who said he urged Albernaz to have Cowser study Cody Bellingers at-bats as a way to help his approach at the plate. According to Palmer, the suggestion did not get far, and it has become part of the broader debate over why Baltimores promising core underperformed in such a costly season. [Read more 🡒]