Insider Says One Guardians Player Must Step Up In Game 2

Jo Adell played a huge role in getting the Cleveland Guardians into the playoffs. Now, the outfielder has to do his part to make sure they stay there.

Adell’s MLB postseason debut in Game 1 of the ALDS could not have gone any worse. Batting cleanup as the DH, he struck out four times in four at-bats during the Guardians’ 3-0 loss to the White Sox on Saturday at Progressive Field.

With Game 2 on Monday, insider Joe Noga of Cleveland.com said he believes the Guardians need the slugger to show up, with potential elimination looming if he doesn’t.

“Falling behind 2-0 in a best-of-5 series before heading to Chicago would put the Guardians in a hole they cannot expect to climb out of. And if they are going to even the series, they need Adell to be a factor. Adell was acquired for moments like this. Since joining Cleveland on Aug. 3, he led the Guardians with 32 RBIs and hit .298 with runners in scoring position. Game 2 is when Cleveland needs that threat to show up,” Noga wrote.

Granted, Adell was far from alone in his struggles in the opener. Cleveland managed three hits against five Chicago pitchers, with second baseman Travis Bazzana the only starter to have one.

Yet the Guardians still had golden opportunities to score, loading the bases twice in the first four innings. But, as was the case at times during the regular season, they could not come up with a big hit and wound up being shut out for the 17th time in 2026.

Adell was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels at the early August deadline, and the deal paid off in a big way. He helped the Guardians rally from six games behind the White Sox to win the AL Central during the final weekend, earning the No. 2 seed and the bye that put them into this series.

However, that also created a six-day layoff, which may have had an effect on the entire lineup. Other than its bases-loaded situations, Cleveland left only one other runner on base in the game.

Leading off an inning, Adell struck out looking in the second, swinging in the fourth, and looking in the sixth. He struck out swinging to end the eighth.

The top five batters in the Guardians lineup, including Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter, and Angel Martinez, were a combined 0-for-18 with two walks, so they need much better performances from more than just Adell in Game 2.