The Cleveland Guardians have a lot of work to do in the batter's box in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox.
The Cleveland Guaridans are coming off a disappointing Game 1 loss to the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, when nothing went the Guardians’ way.
Despite what the final score said, Cleveland looked outmatched on the field, and a lot needs to change for the Guardians in Game 2 if they don’t want to be facing elimination in the middle of the week.
What Must Change for the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS?
Cleveland’s pitching wasn’t perfect, but it did enough to give the Guardians a chance to win the game. The team should be happy if they get a similar performance in Game 2 with Gavin Williams as the team’s starter.
The Guardians' issue came in the field. Cleveland struggled to generate any offense and was shut out on three hits. Cleveland also struck out a combined 12 times.
It wasn’t just the final numbers that looked bad; the Guardians’ quality of at-bats was discouraging, too, and that’s what must change for Cleveland as it prepares for Game 2.
As a team, the White Sox generated 22 swing-and-misses throughout the game. Given this number alone, it was apparent that the Guardians were having trouble picking up what Chicago pitchers were getting ready to throw.
Some examples of this were in the bottom of the ninth inning when Angel Martinez and Nathaniel Lowe both chased a curveball in the dirt to strikeout.
Oct 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (46) reacts after striking out during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesPossibly the most apparent strikeout that proved Cleveland’s game plan wasn’t up to par was in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Jo Adell struck out on three pitches, with the third pitch of the at-bat being a 99 mph fastball in the heart of the zone that Adell didn’t even offer at.
Clearly, that pitch wasn’t what he was looking for, and it was a similar case for the rest of Cleveland’s lineup throughout the day.
The pitch counts of Chicago’s arm also show how unprepared Cleveland’s hitters were. Grant Taylor pitched the final four innings of the game, but only threw 42 pitches, with 34 of them being strikes. He might even be available to pitch on Monday.
The White Sox shared their pitching plan for Game 2 on Sunday afternoon, and it’ll be Anthony Kay as the opener, with Sean Burke coming in to throw the bulk innings behind him.
The key for the Guardians in this game will be putting together better at-bats. If they do that, Cleveland might just have a better chance of scoring some runs and tying the series up at one game apiece.
