One of the biggest questions hanging over the Cleveland Guardians after their season ended on Monday night had nothing to do with the lineup. It centered on a pitcher who never took the mound. Tanner Bibee, Cleveland’s Opening Day starter and the team’s leader in starts and innings during the regular season, did not pitch a single inning in the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. That included Game 6, when the Guardians used eight pitchers in a 7-3 loss that ended their season. MLB Network’s Chris Rose called Bibee’s absence one of the great mysteries of the series. After the game, Stephen Vogt was asked about it directly, and he explained the thinking behind the decision.
“Had we advanced the usage could have looked a lot different…. We wanted Tanner to pitch, the spot never presented itself,” Vogt said.
Stephen Vogt on Tanner Bibee sitting out the ALCS: “Had we advanced the usage could have looked a lot different…. We wanted Tanner to pitch, the spot never presented itself” #Guardians
Video courtesy #MLB pool feed pic.twitter.com/orBmKFbqxq
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) October 20, 2026
Vogt explained that the Guardians were specifically holding Bibee for games that might require extra inning coverage. In other words, Bibee was being saved as a long relief option in case a game went deep into extra innings and Cleveland needed someone who could cover multiple frames. None of the six games in the series went past nine innings, so that situation never came up. Vogt added that if the Guardians had advanced to the World Series, Bibee’s usage could have looked a lot different, and he called the situation unfortunate.
That explanation adds some context to a decision that frustrated plenty of fans. Bibee made just one appearance all postseason, coming out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the division series against the White Sox. He walked two of the three batters he faced before being lifted, and both of those runners scored. He did not pitch again over the final eight games of Cleveland’s postseason run.
His absence stood out because of how heavily the Guardians leaned on the rest of the staff. Shawn Armstrong started Game 6 after pitching on each of the previous two days, becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to do that. Matt Festa pitched in two games of the ALCS, including Game 4, when he allowed a two run homer to Yandy Díaz in his first postseason appearance. Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis, who had been terrific all postseason, each gave up two run homers late in Game 6.
There were reasons the Guardians may have hesitated. Bibee struggled in September, posting a 7.36 ERA over five starts, and his only October outing did not go well. Cleveland also found success with other arms, including Foster Griffin, who struck out fifteen batters in 10 1/3 postseason innings, and the pairing of Daniel Espino and Joey Cantillo.
Still, Bibee’s regular season résumé was strong. He made all 33 of his starts, threw a team high 188 innings and recorded nineteen quality starts, the most by a Cleveland pitcher since Shane Bieber in 2022. He was also named a Gold Glove finalist earlier this month, with the winners set to be announced on Nov. 1.
Vogt’s comments make it clear the Guardians did not lose faith in Bibee. The timing just never lined up. As the offseason begins, the 27-year-old will look to bounce back from a frustrating finish and reclaim a key role in a rotation that figures to be one of the strengths of next year’s team.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Sends Three-Word Message To Guardians After Game 6 Loss
