The American League Championship Series will begin on Monday between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees.
Both of these teams are division winners and were the favorites to beat their respective American League Division Series opponents.
The Guardians defeated the Detroit Tigers in 5 games while the Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in 4 games.
According to Guardians Prospective on ‘X,’ the Guardians have made 2 roster moves before game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Cleveland #Guardians are adding RHP Pedro Avila to the roster for the American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
OF/INF Angel Martinez who was on the active roster for the Tigers series has been removed.
The active roster will have 13 pitchers and 13 position…
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) October 14, 2024
The roster moves include adding another right-handed pitcher to the bullpen while removing a utility player.
Pedro Avila will join the bullpen for the ALCS and utility outfielder/infielder Angel Martinez, who was active for the ALDS, will sit this one out.
Avila appeared in 50 games during the regular season and held a 3.25 earned run average with 73 strikeouts in 74.2 innings pitched.
Martinez played in 43 games during the regular season and batted .232 with 3 home runs, 11 runs batted in, and a .635 on-base plus slugging percentage.
The move appears to signify that the Guardians will be going to their bullpen at the first sign of trouble from their starting pitchers.
At this point in the postseason, every game matters, and the Guardians are loading up their bullpen to prepare for possible high-leverage situations.
The active roster for the Guardians in the ALCS now includes 13 position players along with 13 pitchers.
After the incredible season that the Guardians bullpen had, it appears to make sense on why the move was made.
The Guardians will try to jump on Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon early to get their starter Alex Cobb some early run support.
NEXT: Guardians Announce ALCS Roster
