Uncertain Cleveland weather could thrust Tanner Bibee into middle of Guardians’ ALCS pitching plans

In each of the past two Octobers, Tanner Bibee was a huge part of the Guardians’ pitching plans. In 2024 he recorded a team-high four starts in the Guardians’ run toward the American League Championship Series. 

Last fall he made one start in Cleveland’s truncated postseason run, allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings against the Tigers. 

But he’s been thrust to the backseat this year. Despite being on the Guardians’ roster for both the American League Division and Championship Series, Bibee’s lone appearance this postseason was a disastrous outing against the White Sox where he allowed two runs in 1/3 of an inning. 

That could change soon thanks to some classic Cleveland weather. 

Although there hasn’t been any news about how the incoming inclement weather could impact Games 4 and 5 of the series, the forecast for the next 48 hours isn’t looking great. We’ve already passed the window where the game could get moved up (which is what happened with Thursday's Game 3), so it seems like there’s a chance one or both of the games could get delayed and/or postponed. 

That would have a huge impact even if the Guardians’ pitching plan was completely set, but it should have even more of an impact given how uncertain things are behind Parker Messick and Gavin Williams. 

Enter Bibee, who is an obvious solution to fill at least some innings in Games 4 and 5 as the Guardians look to get closer to the World Series. 

This weekend's nasty weather means Tanner Bibee could be the most important pitcher on the Guardians' roster

If the series stays the way it’s initially scheduled then chances are we could see Bibee work later tonight, whether it be as a “starter” or at some point in relief in bulk. 

Messick and Williams wouldn’t factor into the pitching plans today since they’re both still working their back to regular rest (which for Messick would be in Game 6 on Monday and for Williams would be in Game 7 on Tuesday), and Foster Griffin seems like a logical candidate to start Game 5 Saturday’s Game 5 on regular rest. 

Although Bibee led the Guardians with a team-high 33 starts in the regular season, his last start came on Sept. 26 and his lone outing since was his aforementioned disastrous relief appearance. It would be foolish to expect any kind of length from him (plus he’s coming off a regular season where he had a 4.36 ERA). 

The good news is that Bibee isn’t the only depth option the Guardians would be able to lean on, as both Slade Cecconi and Joey Cantillo are fresh and would be able to give Stephen Vogt an inning or two if needed. 

The real complication would come if today’s game is pushed back to Saturday. While that would mean Griffin could start Saturday’s Game 4 on regular rest and Messick could start Sunday’s Game 5 on regular rest, that would push Clevleand’s potential bullpen game back to a winner-take-all Game 6. 

Simply put, the Guardians are going to need to throw a bullpen game at some point, whether it comes today, over the weekend or next weekend in Florida. 

And, because of that, there’s going to be some point over the next four days where Bibee is going to dig into the pitcher’s mound with the Guardians’ World Series aspirations squarely on his right shoulder. 

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

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