The Guardians lost Game 4 of the ALCS on Saturday, but the bigger picture on the pitching side is a lot more complicated than the final score.
Cleveland tried to piece the game together with Shawn Armstrong in the first inning and then bulk pitcher Foster Griffin behind him, and the opening plan worked just long enough to give the Guardians a head start. Armstrong got through a scoreless frame, and Chase DeLauter delivered an RBI single to put Cleveland in front.
After that, though, the script unraveled.
The Rays finally pushed through in the sixth, taking their first lead on Junior Caminero’s RBI double after two walks opened the inning. They kept rolling in the seventh, tacking on three more runs against Tim Herrin and Slade Cecconi.
That damage cost the Guardians the game, but it also came with a tradeoff: Stephen Vogt never had to reach for any of his high-leverage bullpen pieces. With three games scheduled in three days, that matters.
The biggest hit to Cleveland’s pitching plan may be the way the Rays were able to break through against Espino. After two straight scoreless outings to open the series, he was tagged for the first time on Caminero’s double, and that likely knocks him out of the mix for Game 5 on Sunday. The Guardians had used Espino as an opener ahead of Joey Cantillo late in the season, but that setup looks unlikely now after Espino threw 22 pitches and had an up-down Saturday.
Griffin’s role also shifted because of the rain delay. He had been lined up to start Sunday, but Vogt brought him into Saturday’s game once the delay allowed him to work on normal rest. That change now sends Parker Messick to the mound in Game 5, after he had originally been slated for Game 6.
The bullpen math may still favor Cleveland by the end of this stretch. Saturday’s loss kept Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski out of the picture, which could pay off if this series keeps grinding forward day after day.
That doesn’t mean the Guardians were spotless in relief. Herrin’s command issues surfaced again, Cecconi was sharp until a double steal put him in trouble, and Matt Festa gave up a homer to Yandy Díaz in the ninth after pitching a scoreless eighth. But compared with the strain on the other side, Cleveland got through the day without emptying the tank.
Kevin Cash had to patch together his own game plan after using Freddy Peralta for 2/3 of an inning in relief of Nick Martinez, while Ian Seymour, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker were also needed to close out the win. Peralta had been lined up to start either Sunday or Monday, but that relief appearance could force another adjustment.
The postponement on Friday put both clubs in a tight stretch of four straight games, and Saturday’s result left the Guardians with a bullpen that should be fresher when the series keeps moving.
In Other News...
Guardians Fans Just Got An ALCS Curveball They Didn't Need
Rain forced a pause at the worst possible time for fans trying to keep pace with this ALCS swing, pushing Game 4 between Cleveland and Tampa Bay to Saturday and reshuffling the rhythm of the series. What had been a familiar postseason cadence suddenly turned into a weekend squeeze, with Game 5 now lined up for Sunday instead of the off-day many supporters had penciled in.
Clevelands momentum from Game 3 still matters, especially after Petey Halpin delivered the key home run that helped the Guardians grab that win. The on-field plan also adds another layer of intrigue, with Shawn Armstrong slated to open the next game, but the bigger question for fans is how this weather delay changes the feel of the series and whether the Guardians can carry their edge through the new schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Have Another Reason To Be Furious With MLB
Rain pushed Game 4 of the American League Championship Series to Saturday in Cleveland, and the delay turned into something more than a weather problem for fans who had already made the trip to the ballpark. The postponement came after the originally scheduled start time, leaving plenty of people on hand only to be told the game would not be played, a frustrating end to a night that had already been built around October baseball.
Chris Rose, a media personality and Guardians fan, was among those calling out Major League Baseball for the way the situation was handled. His criticism centered on the timing of the announcement and the lack of communication from the league office, which only added to the irritation for a fan base that had expected a playoff night and instead got uncertainty and a long wait for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Need Tanner Bibee In A Role Fans Didn't Expect
The Guardians have leaned heavily on a tight playoff bullpen under Stephen Vogt, and that approach has pushed some familiar names into unfamiliar spots as the schedule keeps compressing. Tanner Bibee, who has been part of Clevelands postseason picture, already made one brief appearance in the ALDS and could be asked to fit into a relief mix again as the club keeps searching for ways to cover innings without overextending its top arms.
Shawn Armstrong is lined up to open Game 4 of the ALCS, a move that could create a bridge to the middle of the game and open the door for Bibee or another pitcher to handle the bulk work behind him. It is the kind of October wrinkle that can change quickly, but for a Guardians team trying to navigate a short postseason staff, every inning is becoming a puzzle piece. [Read more 🡒]