One of the biggest turning points in the Guardians’ postseason, at least in this corner of the conversation, was Stephen Vogt’s decision to put Gavin Williams in relief in Game 4 of the ALDS. Asked whether that belonged on the list of most impactful moments, the answer was an emphatic yes.
Vogt rolled the dice by using his ace with a comfortable lead in the ninth inning even though other pitchers were available, all while knowing Williams would have to come back two days later and start a win-or-go-home Game 5. Williams ended up making that move look brilliant.
There’s also still some uncertainty around the rotation if Cleveland keeps going. Tanner Bibee might not be locked into a starter’s role in the next round, and it was said there’s still a chance he could appear in an ALCS game, even if it isn’t as a starter.
Looking farther ahead, questions about the outfield were raised too, with Petey Halpin and Angel Martinez both in the mix. Martinez led the club in home runs despite missing five weeks with a broken bone in his left foot, and the future of Steven Kwan, who enters his walk year in 2027, could influence how everything shakes out.
The postseason has also brought its share of blame and debate. Jose Ramirez’s error in the Guardians’ 3-1 loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the ALCS was part of a rough fourth inning for Cleveland, though the loss wasn’t pinned on one player alone. The ball did go through Ramirez’s legs to open the door for Tampa Bay’s three-run rally, but the message was that he knows how the game works and can handle both praise and criticism.
Petey Halpin’s home-run bat flip drew another question, this time about whether Tampa Bay might come after him for it. The response was simple: let’s hope not, though someone on the Rays pitching staff may remember it.
The larger point was that the game has changed, and players are much more willing - and sometimes encouraged - to show emotion. Halpin’s rookie energy may get him a pass, but he was fortunate he didn’t do it against Bob Gibson.
He was also lucky the ball barely cleared the right-field wall.
There was even a rules question tied to the postseason strategy. On a double play the Guardians tried to turn in the fourth inning of ALCS Game 2, the Rays were allowed to challenge both out calls at first and second base with one challenge.
That’s how it works: one challenge can cover both outs. In that case, the out at second stood and the out at first was overturned.
Bibee’s season came up again in a broader look at his future. It was described as a hard year for him, with just about everything that could go wrong seeming to go wrong while he was on the mound.
Even so, he led the team with 33 starts and 188 innings pitched despite his 7-15 record. He’s under contract through 2029, with a club option for 2030, and as long as he’s healthy, a bounce-back season next year is still on the table.
The Jose chant also came up, after Yankee fans were heard doing “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose” for Jose Caballero during the ALDS. There wasn’t a definitive answer on whether that was borrowed from Cleveland fans, but the chant itself traces back to the soccer chant “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole," which came from a Belgian song about bullfighting and was later popularized at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. No matter where it started, it was said to fire up Ramirez and bring back good memories for Guardians fans.
And Nathaniel Lowe has already become part of the conversation too. Even someone who once didn’t care much for him now sees him differently in a Guardians uniform, with the move from Cincinnati at the trade deadline making him a strong presence at first base and DH.
In Other News...
Guardians Put Their Trust In A Risky ALCS Game 4 Plan
Rain has already pushed back Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, but the delay only adds another layer to a night Cleveland was preparing to approach in a different way. With a 2-1 series lead over Tampa Bay, the Guardians were set to turn to a bullpen game, with Shawn Armstrong lined up as the opener in a plan that asks a lot from the staff and gives the series a different look at a critical moment.
Tanner Bibee sounded comfortable with the arrangement before the game, pointing to the confidence the Guardians have in their pitching group. It is the kind of move teams usually reserve for a spot where they believe the matchups and depth can hold up, but it also leaves little margin if the game turns into a long grind once the tarp comes off and the first pitch finally gets thrown. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Turn To Unconventional Game 4 Plan With ALCS Momentum Rising
With Cleveland up two games to one in the American League Championship Series, the next step in this matchup is coming with a twist. The Guardians announced Shawn Armstrong will open Game 4 before handing things off to a bulk reliever, a setup that reflects how confidently the pitching plan is being managed as the series shifts back to Cleveland. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is set to counter with Nick Martinez in Friday nights game, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
It is the kind of postseason decision that can change quickly if the weather gets involved, too. Rain is in the forecast, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a game already carrying plenty of weight for the Guardians, who have a chance to push their momentum even further on home turf. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Outlook Just Shifted Around Colin Holderman
Colin Holdermans status is the latest bullpen note to settle in around the Guardians, and it is a significant one. The reliever recently underwent surgery on his right wrist to address recurring tendinitis, leaving Cleveland to plan for life without one of the arms it had viewed as an important part of the relief mix going forward.
Holderman had already been sidelined for the past month with the injury, and the timeline now stretches much farther than a short-term fix. The expectation is that he will be ready for the 2027 season and spring training, which gives the Guardians plenty of time to adjust in the meantime but also leaves a sizable gap in the bullpen picture until then. [Read more 🡒]