Former Player Says 1 Pitcher Is ‘Critical’ To Guardians’ Success This Season

The Cleveland Guardians have taken advantage of an easy stretch in their schedule by winning five consecutive series to pull within one-half game of the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card race.

A big reason for that has been the consistency of the pitching staff, but a former player recently mentioned one starter who is “critical” to success down the stretch.

Analyst Jensen Lewis stressed the importance of Tanner Bibee overcoming a recent slump.

“I almost think it might be one of those silver linings. You’d rather kind of get it out now because, as we know, if this team’s making the postseason or at least making a run for it, he’s as critical to the success of the club overall as anybody in that rotation. Imagine getting Tanner right the way Gavin [Williams is] throwing the ball this year,” Lewis said.

Can Tanner Bibee get right? #GuardsBall

"He's as critical to the success of the club overall as anybody in that rotation."

–@JLEWFifty on the potential playoff pitching staff

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— BIGPLAY Cleveland Show (@BIGPLAYCLEshow) August 14, 2025

Bibee is 9-9 with a 4.54 ERA and has given up at least two earned runs in 14 straight starts.

The offense has had his back, as the Guardians have won his last seven starts, even though he has had one quality start since June.

Almost every metric is down from last season, yet the Guardians will struggle to compete in the playoffs without Bibee at his best.

He had an ERA below 4.00 in May and June, so there is reason to believe last season wasn’t a fluke and he has what it takes to right the ship.

However, this stretch of bad starts has been particularly concerning, given the fact that his last six have come against teams out of the playoff race.

If Cleveland makes the postseason, Bibee will be projected to start either Game 1 or Game 2 of any potential series, so he has to perform like a pitcher worthy of that honor as soon as possible.