The Guardians are using their best three starting pitchers to open the playoff series against New York, but in a different order than normal.
It's always one of the biggest questions heading into a playoff series: how do you line up your starting pitching?
The Cleveland Guardians are in New York to take on the Yankees this week in the American League Division Series and I think the relatively odd schedule for games actually benefits Cleveland.
New York earned a first round bye in the postseason by virtue of their 99-win regular season, but I don't think they are going to have the advantage that they hoped to have.
After Cleveland opened the playoffs with back-to-back wins over Tampa Bay, the Guardians had both Sunday and Monday off to rest their pitching, PLUS there ended up being two days off between Games 1 and 2 with the scheduled off day.
Originally, it seemed like Cleveland probably wouldn’t need a fourth starter in the series. But Shane Bieber won’t likely be available on two days rest for a potential Game 5. But the Guardians bullpen is in far better shape than New York’s, which is dealing with a number of injured pitchers.
Here are the matchups for the series:
Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees A.L.D.S. Starting Pitching Matchups
- Game 1, Oct. 11: CLE RHP Cal Quantrill vs. NYY RHP Gerrit Cole
- Game 2, Oct. 13: CLE RHP Shane Bieber vs. NYY LHP Nestor Cortes
- Game 3, Oct. 15: CLE RHP Triston McKenzie vs. NYY RHP Luis Severino
- Game 4, Oct. 16: CLE RHP Cal Quantrill vs. NYY RHP Gerrit Cole
- Game 5, Oct. 17 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
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