3 things Guardians must tighten up in final week before MLB playoffs begin

The postseason is almost here, and the Cleveland Guardians have done just about everything but punch their ticket. 

While the Guardians lost their game to the Red Sox on Wednesday, they still knocked a game off their Magic Number in the American League Central thanks to the White Sox's loss to the Royals while having their overall Magic Number shrink to one game thanks to the Rangers' loss to the Mets.

There are still plenty of things that need to be settled, it looks like there's going to be some kind of October baseball at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

But before the Guardians hit the start of October (whenever that is), here are three things they need to figure out. 

The Guardians have some things to figure out before the start of the postseason

Figure out their pitching plans 

The Guardians’ current pitching staff features some big highs and some steep lows. On one hand, they know they'll have an advantage at the start of any series thanks to the presence of Gavin Williams and Parker Messick. 

But the rest of the rotation behind them is still a question mark. The Guardians acquired Foster Griffin for him to be a shutdown starter in the postseason, and he showed a flash of that on Wednesday with a strong six-inning start.

Joey Cantillo struggled in August but has looked like a different pitcher since the Guardians shifted him to the bullpen two weeks ago. He's going to work as the bulk pitcher later today.

Tanner Bibee is the lone Guardians starter who has a contract extension, but he may be pitching his way out of Cleveland’s postseason plans with an 8.24 ERA in Septmeber. 

The Guardians have a free spot in their bullpen, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cantillo occupy one of those as a longman alongside Slade Cecconi. Does that leave enough room for Bibbe on the postseason roster (whether it be as a starter or reliever?)

Bibee will make one more start before the end of the season. Would a strong start be enough for him to make the postseason roster? 

Cleveland’s pitching staff has been a strength all season, but we’re at a point in the season where one bad weekend can unravel a team’s dreams. 

Nail down the division title

Although the Guardians have ALL BUT SECURED down their postseason spot, there’s still a lot that needs to be resolved when it comes to the American League Central. 

The Guardians hold a one game lead over the White Sox in the division, but they don’t have much room for error given Chicago holds the tiebreaker between the two teams. 

The one position that comes from the uncertainty is the Guardians are all but locked into the bottom of the American League postseason bracket, which cuts down the number of potential opponents they could have. 

If they win the division then they’d take on the winner of the Wild Card Series between the White Sox and winner of the American League West, and if they fall to the Wild Card they’d take on the winner of the American League West before taking on the White Sox in the American League Division Series. 

The Guardians would be favored in a series against the White Sox, Rangers or Astros, but the Division Series would come with the built-in advantage of five days off. The postseason may be a given, but a division title is the goal. 

Solidfy the end of the bench

We all know the Guardians’ postseason lineup is going to feature plenty of familiar faces. Steven Kwan batting leadoff, Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez in the middle and Brayan Rocchio in the No. 9 hole. 

But there’s still some spots to get figured out. 

Petey Halpin has provided the Guardians with some solid defense in center field and had a huge swing against the White Sox last week, but would the Guardians give him a postseason roster? What about Daniel Schneemann? 

Last season the Guardians carried 15 position players on their postseason roster for the Wild Card Series, but most teams cut that down to 14 for the Division Series so they can carry an extra pitcher. 

The Guardians have a bevy of minor leaguers working in a “stay ready” camp in Triple-A, so there could always be a surprise or two coming down the pipe (even if it’s not to the same degree as Chase DeLauter making his debut in the postseason). 

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