Guardians escaped ALCS Game 2 loss without wasting precious bullpen assets

The Guardians lost Game 2 of the ALCS the Tampa Bay Rays in a game highlighted more by pitching than the bats. Messick bounced back after two short ALDS starts and worked through five innings.

Though he allowed three runs, all were unearned in large part due to a fourth inning error by José Ramírez on a ball that was likely tougher to handle than it may seem on television given the tricky turf of the Trop.

While the Guardians bats were silenced outside of a single run scored in the seventh inning, they weren’t without opportunity as nine runners were left on base.

Chase DeLauter showed he's still locked in with a 1-for-2 outing at the plate and two walks to add to his statline. Rays starter Freddy Peralta had his nasty stuff going and controlled the better part of the six innings he pitched. He deserves a tip pf the cap more than the Guardians offense deserves to be bashed. Breaking news: great pitching still tops great pitching.

While we are at the point in the season when it is hard to assign moral victories after a loss, the Guardians should feel great about heading back to Cleveland. The first reason to be thrilled is the Guardians stole Game 1 and took home field advantage from the Rays. Every Guardians fan would have taken an even series heading back to Cleveland.

The Guardians were able to give their key relievers a day off in Game 2 of ALCS

The second reason to be excited is that the Guardians did not deploy their best bullpen arms in Game 2, and though they lost, their high leverage relievers will be on two-day rest heading into Game 3.

The two-day break should do wonders for what I imagine are tired arms, particularly in the case of Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis, both of whom pitched in all five ALDS games and Game 1 of the ALCS. There are no bizarrely scheduled off days in middle of the ALCS like there were in the ALDS, meaning Games 3-5 will be played consecutively.

This offers the potential that Smith and Gaddis, among others, could pitch for three straight days. Meanwhile, the Rays deployed their best relievers in an effort to tie the series, two (Kevin Kelly and Ian Seymour) who pitched in Game 1 as well.

Gavin Williams will start Game 3, and if his two starts in the ALDS are any indication, there is a good chance he gives the Guardians length and a chance to hand the ball off to their high leverage relievers. Of course, this means the Guards also have a great opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the series and put the Rays season in jeopardy. 

Heading into the ALCS, the Cleveland Guardians could not have dreamt of a much better scenario coming home to what will certainly be a raucous crowd (filled with much better energy than the one in Tampa.)

Game 2 was a nice reset for the bullpen, and while the Rays came away with the victory, their bats have been less than daunting in 18 innings of play. Now that Cleveland has everyone rested and their best Postseason starter on the bump, momentum is in their corner.

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