In Game 1 of the ALDS, the Cleveland Guardians didn’t look anything like the team that finished the regular season with nine wins in their last 10 meaningful games. Instead, they unfortunately looked like the team that struggled on offense for long stretches during the campaign.
The 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox brought to light some of the problems that plagued the Guardians when they were not at their best. In particular, it was the inability to get a big hit with runners in scoring position, as Cleveland left the bases loaded twice in the first four innings.
But analyst Ken Carman said he isn’t concerned yet about the Guardians’ playoff struggles, but another loss in Game 2 on Monday would change that outlook.
“It was annoying, and I don’t think I’m concerned yet. I’m not concerned. It sucked to see us to only get a few hits. That was terrible. To kind of waste an outing by Parker Messick, that seemed terrible. Overwhelmingly, I’m just not concerned yet. If they lose today, obviously you have to be concerned. You’d be down two-nothing in the series. My mortal fear is not jumping in right now. However, I think I’m probably in the minority of people,” Carman said.
Perhaps the offense was hurt by the layoff between the end of the season on Sunday and the Guardians’ wait to play on Saturday, after they earned the No. 2 seed by winning the AL Central by one game over the White Sox. Cleveland managed just three hits overall, one from their starting lineup, and left seven runners on base in Game 1.
Messick lasted 4.1 innings in his postseason debut, needing 87 pitches to do so. He gave up a two-run homer to Munetaka Murakami in the fourth inning, which was more than enough for the White Sox, who were able to get a rare four-inning save from Grant Taylor.
The Guardians were shut out 16 times this season and scored one run in a loss 17 times, so there is some reason for concern about the offense going cold. In a best-of-5 series like this one, it could very quickly become too late to turn it around.
Unfortunately, the task is not going to get any easier in Game 2, when the White Sox will start left-hander Anthony Kay. In four games against Cleveland this season, Kay allowed just five runs in 20.0 innings, with a .171 batting average against.
So, the Guardians need to find a way to get their offense going, or they could already be facing elimination in Game 3 at Chicago on Wednesday.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals One Concern About Guardians' Game 1 Loss
