The Cleveland Guardians’ starting rotation has been rightfully praised as the reason they have been able to stay near the top of the AL Central standings in the first month of the 2026 season. However, the relievers had also done their fair share in making the pitching staff the strength of the team.
That was until Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, when Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski and Connor Brogdon combined to allow six eighth-inning runs in a 6-4 loss. Among their 53 combined pitches, only 26 were strikes.
Despite that meltdown, analyst Tom Withers revealed a reason not to worry about the Guardians’ bullpen, saying it is just the up-and-down nature of relief pitching.
“I questioned Vogt pulling Sabrowski last night, but didn’t get down there in time to ask him postgame. He chalked up the messy eighth as a ‘one off.’ Armstrong loading the bases was the main problem. Bullpens have bad days, weeks. Good thing is there’s another game today,” Withers wrote.
I questioned Vogt pulling Sabrowski last night, but didn't get down there in time to ask him postgame. He chalked up the messy eighth as a "one off." Armstrong loading the bases was the main problem.
Bullpens have bad days, weeks.
Good thing is there's another game today.
— Tom Withers (@twithersCLE) April 18, 2026
Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee held Baltimore without a run for six innings in arguably his best performance of the season. Hunter Gaddis followed with a scoreless seventh inning.
After Daniel Schneemann gave the Guardians the lead with a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh, Armstrong opened the top of the eighth by walking two Baltimore batters around a hit by pitch to load the bases. Sabrowski was brought in, and he allowed a sacrifice fly, issued another walk to reload the bases, then gave up a two-run double. After he left with a strikeout, Brogdon came in and immediately gave up a three-run homer.
It was completely out of character for Armstrong and Sabrowski, who each entered the game with an ERA around 2.00. It was the second rough outing in a row for Brogdon, whose ERA for the season has ballooned to 6.48.
With Gaddis rounding into form after coming off the injured list, and closer Cade Smith struggling in his first season as the full-time closer, the Guardians do have some issues to keep an eye on. After its performance on Friday, Cleveland’s bullpen ERA is 5.55, which ranks 25th in the majors.
Hopefully, it can reverse course again, in a good way, and take care of business in the later innings going forward, beginning with their rematch against the Orioles on Saturday.
NEXT: Young Guardians Hitter Is Starting To Turn Things Around
