The Cleveland Guardians have a much-needed day off on Wednesday as they get prepared for a pivotal Game 3 of the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday morning. Game 2 didn’t go their way, but the Guardians at least earned a split in Tampa and took back home-field advantage.
The bats went quiet in Game 2, but that doesn’t discount the other good things that happened on Tuesday. The bullpen continued to be dominant, particularly Shawn Armstrong, who tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of work.
Guardians prospective shared that Armstrong’s dominant Game 2 outing has only continued his trend of excellence in this postseason. He has now given up just one hit in 5.1 innings of work.
“Cleveland Guardians RHP Shawn Armstrong tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief tonight in Game 2 of the ALCS vs the Rays. Line – 1.2(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO (20 Pitches 15 Strikes). 2026 post-season: – 5.1(IP) 1H 0ER 0BB 5SO 0.00 ERA,” Guardians Prospective posted.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP Shawn Armstrong tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief tonight in Game 2 of the ALCS vs the Rays.
Line – 1.2(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1SO
(20 Pitches 15 Strikes)
2026 post-season:
– 5.1(IP) 1H 0ER 0BB 5SO 0.00 ERA#StandGuard pic.twitter.com/bHQCSimdK7
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) October 14, 2026
Armstrong has bounced around so much during his career that he has had two separate stints with both ALCS teams. Perhaps that has provided a little extra motivation for him since he now has a chance to stick it to a team that gave up on him twice.
He didn’t have the best year this season as he posted a 4.58 ERA in 41 appearances. It was a significant step back from the 2.31 ERA he posted in 71 appearances for the Texas Rangers in 2025, but he is making up for all of that this October.
A great bullpen is imperative in October, and Armstrong is doing his part alongside the rest of his buddies out in the pen. Hunter Gaddis has matched Armstrong with 5.1 scoreless innings of his own and Cade Smith has given up just one run in 7.2 innings with 11 strikeouts.
This is some of the best work Armstrong has done in his career and if the Guardians can just get a little more length out of this rotation, the sky is the limit for this team.
NEXT: Analyst Has A New Short-Term Postseason Goal For Guardians
