Guardians new faces just showed how team’s aggressive trade deadline could make 2026 difference

The Guardians’ win over the Tigers on Wednesday was the exact kind of game they were built to win at the trade deadline. 

While Foster Griffin wasn’t as sharp as he could be, he was able to work around damage across his five innings of work and keep the Guardians in the game. 

And even though Jo Adell only had one hit, he made sure to make it count with a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning off Tigers starter Framber Valdez. And Nathaniel Lowe made an impression at the end of the game by making a great scoop to secure the 27th out. 

Not only was it a much-needed win for the Guardians, but it was the first win they had that was led by their trade deadline acquisitions. 

Jo Adell, Foster Griffin and Nathaniel Lowe led the Guardians to victory over Tigers 

Although it was clear from the jump on Wednesday that Griffin didn’t have his best stuff, he was still able to work through five innings while limiting the damage to three earned runs (only one of which was earned). 

That kind of outing is the reason the Guardians traded for him. No, not because they wanted him to toss five average innings; it’s because they wanted someone in his spot in the rotation who could limit the damage. 

While Slade Cecconi had the occasional productive start, he had plenty of outings that ended up unraveling thanks to one big inning. Griffin didn’t let that happen on Wednesday. 

The Tigers recorded their first two runs off him on an RBI double from Spencer Torkelson that was set up by a back-breaking error from José Ramírez, but he settled in and allowed just three baserunners the rest of the way. 

Even if one of those baserunners came in the form of a Gleyber Torres home run on a sweeper over the middle of the plate, Griffin did a good job limiting the damage. 

And that ability to limit the damage set up Adell’s blast, which pushed the Guardians to a 4-3 lead that they’d never relinquish. 

Adell may be hitting just .172 in his eight games with the Guardians, but he still has an OPS+ of 117 on the back of two doubles and two home runs. Cleveland acquired Adell for his power and ability to mash against lefties, and he’s done exactly that. 

He also now has a .988 OPS in 27 career at-bats against Valdez, which is a huge boost to the Guardians considering Valdez isn’t going to be leaving the Tigers any time soon. 

After the game, Adell said it was “really cool to experience a rally” for the first time in his Guardians career. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many.

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