Insider Reveals When Guardians Could Pitch Tanner Bibee

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has relied on a core group of relief pitchers so far during the playoffs. Many of them, such as Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Erik Sabrowski, are familiar sights late in games. Others, such as Daniel Espino, have been something of a surprise in key, early-game innings.

With 13 pitchers on the roster for the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays, there may not have been an assignment for all of them. But now that the schedule has been condensed with the Game 4 rainout on Friday, there may be a need for them now.

Insider Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com revealed when the Guardians could pitch Tanner Bibee, a starter who has just one appearance for one-third of an inning this postseason.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still think there’s a chance we’ll see Bibee pitch in an ALCS game. It probably won’t be as a starter, but he could make a relief appearance,” Hoynes wrote.

After the Guardians took a 3-2 lead on Jose Ramirez’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning in Game 4 of the ALDS, Bibee was brought in to start the top of the fifth. After walking the leadoff hitter, Bibee got a strikeout. He then walked another batter and, with no room for error facing elimination, Vogt removed Bibee with runners on first and second. The right-hander threw 15 pitches, just six of them for strikes.

Tim Herrin came in, and after a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a sacrifice fly, Chicago had regained the lead, 4-3. Fortunately, Cleveland was able to rally for a 9-5 win, took the series in Game 5, and has built a 2-1 lead over the Rays in the ALCS.

The Guardians will stick with the plan to use reliever Shawn Armstrong as an opener in Game 4, which could put Bibee, Slade Cecconi, or Joey Cantillo into a bulk role later on. Cecconi was not on the ALDS roster, but he has pitched one inning in the ALCS, and Cantillo has thrown 2.2 innings in two postseason appearances.

With as many as four high-intensity games over the next four days, it will be all hands on deck for the Guardians pitching staff, with Bibee likely to get called on for crucial outs at some point.