ALDS Preview: A quick look at the Cleveland Guardians

Here’s a quick gander at what to expect from the Guardians against the Tigers in the American League Divisional Series

The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians open up American League Divisional Series play on Saturday afternoon in an unexpected battle between two AL Central teams. Last year, the division was the worst in baseball, but somewhat miraculously, four of the five teams posted .500 records or better this summer.

Of course, there was the Chicago White Sox’ s historically bad campaign as well.

The Guards won the division title and the regular-season series with Detroit but in a narrow fashion, seven games to six. Cleveland won the first series of the season at home back in May, two games to one, but the Tigers struck back in July taking three of four inside Comerica Park ahead of the All-Star Game.

Following the midsummer classic, the Guardians and Tigers split four in Cleveland before the ALC champions swept Detroit in a two-game series — again at home — on the final days of July.

Tigers vs. Guardians ALDS (all times ET)

• Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5 — Tigers at Cleveland, 1:08 p.m. TBS
• Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7 — Tigers at Cleveland, 4:08 p.m. TBS
• Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9 — Cleveland at Tigers, time TBD, TBS
• *Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10 — Cleveland at Tigers, time TBD, TBS
• *Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12 — Tigers at Cleveland, time TBD, TBS

(* if necessary)

Below is a look at who to expect to take the field for the Guardians along with stats from the 2024 regular season for the team and each individual listed.

Offense

Projected Starters

Catcher: Bo Naylor (.201/.264/.350)

First Base: Josh Naylor (.243/.320/.456)

Second Base: Andrés Giménez (.252/.298/.340)

Third Base: José Ramírez (.279/.335/.537)

Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio (.206/.298/.316)

Right Field: Steven Kwan (.292/.368/.425)

Center Field: Lane Thomas (.209/.267/.390)

Left Field: Will Brennan (.264/.309/.388); Jhonkensy Noel (.218/.288/.486)

Designated Hitter: David Fry (.263/.356/.448); Kyle Manzardo (.234.282.421)

Pitching

Overall Stats

Starting Rotation:

1. Tanner Bibee RHP (12-8, 173.2 IP, 3.47 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.12 WHIP)
2. Matthew Boyd LHP (2-2, 39.2 IP, 2.72 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.13 WHIP)
3. Alex Cobb RHP (2-1, 16.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.04 WHIP)
4. Ben Lively RHP (13-10, 151.0 IP, 3.81 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.25 WHIP)
5. Gavin Williams RHP (3-10, 76.0 IP, 4.86 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 1.37 WHIP)
6. Joey Cantillo LHP (2-4, 38.2 IP, 4.89 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.29 WHIP)

Bullpen:

• Emmanuel Clase RHP (4-2, 74.1 IP, 0.61 ERA, 2.23 FIP, 0.66 WHIP)
• Cade Smith RHP (6-1, 75.1 IP, 1.91 ERA, 1.40 FIP, 0.90 WHIP)
• Hunter Gaddis RHP (6-3, 74.2 IP, 1.57 ERA, 2.82 FIP, 0.76 WHIP)
• Tim Herrin LHP (5-1, 65.2 IP, 1.92 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 0.98 WHIP)

Full Roster

Summary

While Cleveland held the edge in the regular-season series, those numbers went out the window the moment the postseason began. Detroit is playing with house money right now and AJ Hinch is in complete control of his team, which appears to have the mojo flowing on full blast.

However, this will be a longer series than the Wild Card round, which means that the Tigers will need more than just some good luck to prevail over their intra-conference rivals. Tarik Skubal is a weapon of mass destruction for the Olde English D that will certainly help dictate the outcome of this series but Detroit cannot be complacent against a well-rested opponent.

More likely than not, the bullpens will decide who moves on to the American League Championship Series. That does not bode too well for the Motor City Kitties, but rest assured that Hinch and Co. are up for the challenge.