The Cleveland Guardians are turning to Shawn Armstrong to open Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays, putting one of their most dependable postseason arms at the front of a must-win night.
Armstrong will start/open for the Guardians in Game 6 tonight, according to reports. Cleveland made the call after using him in both Games 4 and 5, and he responded with scoreless outings in each appearance despite the quick turnaround.
The move comes with the Guardians backed into a corner after Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. That result left Cleveland trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, with no margin left for mistakes.
Armstrong’s October has been a major bright spot for Cleveland. Over 7.2 innings this postseason, the veteran right-hander has given up just two hits, no earned runs, six strikeouts and no walks. He threw one scoreless inning in Game 4, then followed that up with 1.1 scoreless innings in Game 5, showing he can keep handling heavy playoff traffic.
His regular-season line looks far different. In 41 appearances for Cleveland, the 36-year-old posted a 4.58 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.
Armstrong also worked back from a calf strain suffered in late July that kept him out for about two months. He returned in the final week of the regular season and has since become a key part of Cleveland’s postseason bullpen.
This is Armstrong’s second run with the Guardians. He originally came up through Cleveland, spending his first three big league seasons there from 2015 to 2017. He rejoined the club last offseason on a one-year, $5.5 million deal after pitching for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
The task in front of Cleveland is straightforward: win Monday and force Game 7 on Tuesday. Lose, and the season is over.
The winner of the series will move on to the World Series to face the Milwaukee Brewers, who punched their ticket by sweeping the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
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Guardians Face A Tough First Base Call After ALCS Run
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First base is one of the more interesting calls on the board. Cleveland has to decide whether to keep Lowe in the mix or let him walk, and the answer could shape how quickly a younger option gets a real look. Ralphy Velazquez is among the prospects the organization is weighing for future contributions, which makes this a position to watch as the Guardians try to turn an encouraging playoff finish into a more settled roster plan. [Read more 🡒]