Fansided

3 improvements Guardians must make to rebound against the Yankees

By Mark Powell

Oct 11, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona relieves starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (47) during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game one of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona relieves starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (47) during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game one of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 11: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a solo home run against Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees during the third inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 11, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 11: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a solo home run against Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees during the third inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 11, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Starters must go further into the game

Cal Quantrill had a fantastic regular season, pitching to a 15-5 record and a 3.38 ERA. He earned his start on Tuesday in the Bronx, and delivered a fairly-reliable outing. Quantrill threw 84 pitches (50 for strikes) and gave up four runs in five innings.

That’s not going to be good enough to win in New York, and the Guardians must steal at least one game on the road to win the series.

Shane Bieber should be ready to pitch Game 2, which will help matters, even against Nestor Cortes. Bieber was excellent in his first playoff outing in the Wild Card series. More of the same could give Cleveland its best shot to steal a game before heading home to Progressive Field.

More of the same from the bullpen

There aren’t too many positives for Cleveland to take from this outing, but first and foremost is the performance of their bullpen.

The trio of Trevor Stephan, Enyel De Los Santos and James Karinchak went three innings and gave up just one hit and no earned runs.

Cleveland had an apparent bullpen advantage entering this series, and they proved it on Tuesday night. If the back-end can perform as well if not better moving forward, then the Guardians stance a chance.

Next. 3 stats that show Gerrit Cole has Guardians number. dark

Home/Cleveland Guardians