The Cleveland Guardians completed another walk-off win on Friday night, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 4-3 victory thanks to Travis Bazzana’s clutch hitting. To put the former No. 1 draft pick in a position to strike, however, lots of things had to happen.
Starter Foster Griffin pitched six innings and allowed three runs. After that, two pitchers took care of the remaining four frames: Daniel Espino solved the seventh and the eighth, and Hunter Gaddis pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth to enable the extra-inning win in the bottom of that frame.
Espino had been called up right before the game and made sure to remind fans, media, and the entire organization that he is capable of big things. Very big things.
“Cleveland Guardians RHP Daniel Espino struck out three Tigers batters tonight over two scoreless innings of work, topping out at 101.7 mph! 🔥 Line – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (26 pitches, 18 strikes). Fastball averaged 99.5 mph. Slider averaged 93.1 mph,” Guardians Prospective reported.
Cleveland #Guardians RHP Daniel Espino struckout three Tigers batters tonight over two scoreless innings of work topping out at 101.7 mph! 🔥
Line – 2.0(IP) 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 3SO
(26 Pitches 18 Strikes)
Fastball averaged 99.5 mph.
Slider averaged 93.1 mph.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/1wN28dbw08— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) September 5, 2026
The Guardians bullpen had to cover 6.2 innings in the early game, so manager Stephen Vogt had to ask a lot from Espino and Gaddis. Luckily for the team, they both delivered big-time.
The rookie fireballer looked lively and in control of the situation. His fastball was faster than ever before, and his slider was nasty as well. Overall, it was an amazing relief outing by the former top prospect, who has had to overcome a myriad of surgeries and health issues to get to where he is.
Espino’s ERA at the MLB level is now a solid 3.38 in eight innings. The most impressive part of his statistical profile, however, is his 15 strikeouts against just four walks.
The right-hander has enjoyed a similarly solid campaign in Triple-A, posting a 3.68 ERA with a whopping 49 punchouts in 36.2 frames. As long as he can keep the walks in check — and he hasn’t always done it — Espino can be a high-leverage reliever in the majors, perhaps with an All-Star ceiling. He is that good.
With the expanded roster, Espino deserves to stay up and help the Guardians get some tough outs in the late innings.
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