Stephen Vogt’s late-game instincts paid off in a big way last night, and the payoff came with Angel Genao’s game-ending play that helped the Guardians beat the Red Sox and shave their magic number to clinch a postseason spot down to two.
The finishing sequence was the kind of oddball baseball moment that can turn a routine out into a full-blown scramble. Red Sox infielder Nick Sogard sent a ground ball to Genao at second base, and the easy play on paper was simple: flip it to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. But Lowe had slipped while trying to cut back to the bag, and suddenly the throw wasn’t there.
Genao didn’t freeze. He stayed with the play, sprinted to first, and got there just ahead of Sogard to end the game. It wasn’t the cleanest ending, but it was enough, and it was the kind of defensive sequence Vogt had set up by making the switch from Travis Bazzana to Genao late.
That move was made with defense in mind, and it showed why Bazzana’s glove issues have not become a bigger storyline. Bazzana has been having a strong finish to his rookie season, but he’s still a subpar defender. He’s improved since a rough start, yet he remains at -2 Outs Above Average this season, with his lack of range and lateral movement dragging him down.
Genao has been the better defender at second. He’s at +2 Outs Above Average there, and his versatility has kept him moving around the infield while bouncing in and out of the lineup all season. That flexibility gave Vogt a clean late-game option, and he used it to help close out a win that moved Cleveland one step closer to clinching.
In Other News...
Guardians Moved Within Reach Of October After A Win That Got Tense
The Guardians gave themselves another October boost with a fast start and enough steady work from the mound to hold off a late push. Angel Martnez, David Fry and Nathaniel Lowe all helped build the early cushion, and Parker Messick did his part in a five-inning start before the bullpen took over to finish the job.
Tim Herrin, Craig Yoho, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith each had a hand in protecting the lead, keeping Cleveland in control even as the game tightened down the stretch. The win leaves the Guardians with a magic number of two to clinch a playoff spot, and depending on how the other results break, it could shrink to one before long. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Are Suddenly One Step Closer To A Clinch After Another Thriller
The Guardians kept finding ways to survive on September 22, outlasting the Red Sox 3-2 in another tight, late-September game that fit the tone of a team trying to finish the job. Nathaniel Lowe provided the decisive blow with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, while Parker Messick did enough in his start to keep Cleveland in position before the bullpen took over.
Cade Smith finished it off and reached 40 saves on the year, a notable marker for a club that has leaned on its late-inning arm all season. The bigger picture is even better for Cleveland: its magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to two, and the Guardians still sit atop the AL Central as the calendar turns toward the final stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have A Painful October Decision On Tanner Bibee
The Guardians have put themselves in a strong spot in the AL Central and are lining up to spend October with a pitching staff built around Parker Messick and Gavin Williams. That kind of stability matters even more when the calendar flips, and it is part of why Cleveland can afford to think carefully about how it handles Tanner Bibee as the postseason approaches.
Bibees recent struggles and uneven performance have raised real questions about whether he can be trusted in the biggest games, and Jensen Lewis has pointed to the numbers as reason for caution. For a team that wants every edge it can get in October, the decision is not simply about talent. It is about whether Cleveland is willing to lean on a pitcher whose role may no longer be as secure as it looked earlier in the year. [Read more 🡒]