The Cleveland Guardians know they have no margin for error.
With that in mind, they’ve decided to bump up Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee in the starting rotation so they can face the Detroit Tigers.
Williams will take the mound in the second game of the series, with Bibee doing the same in the finale.
As such, Logan Allen won’t pitch until the next series against the Minnesota Twins.
This might look like an odd change at first, but as pointed out by insider Tim Stebbins, it’s due to the Tigers’ strong offense against left-handed pitchers.
“One potential underlying aspect of the rotation shuffling and pushing Allen back is how well the Tigers have hit left-handed pitching this season. Entering Tuesday, Detroit ranked first in MLB in wRC+ (118) against southpaws,” Stebbins wrote.
Williams and Bibee are right-handers, while Allen is a lefty.
The Guardians used a six-man starting rotation for a stretch when they would play 24 games in as many days, including one doubleheader and one day off.
That way, everybody could stay fresh for when it matters most.
Notably, the Guardians’ staff is pitching its best at the right time, with everybody feeding off one another and making each other better.
They’ve closed the gap for the final AL Wild Card and can still catch the Tigers atop the AL Central.
So, with two possible routes to get back to the playoffs, it’s time to take advantage of every opportunity.
NEXT: Latest Odds Show Guardians’ Postseason Chances Climbing After Big Win
