The Guardians need to figure out a way to head back to Florida with one more win under their belt.
Last night was a bit of a fever dream. Was that bad defense Bazzana come back to haunt us? Was that Matt Festa for two innings? Was that Junior Caminero finally getting to Daniel Espino? Was that David Fry getting another important at-bat and coming up empty? Is this July Guardians baseball?
It’s time to shake the cobwebs from our minds and try again today.
Keys to an ALCS Game Five Guardians Win
- Parker Messick Has a Legacy Outing
No way around it… for a good shot at winning
today, Messick will need to bring it and have his best start of the playoffs. Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero will be ready to jump him. Pitching to Patrick Bailey for the first time, Messick will have to have plenty of conviction and moxie as well as his good stuff to push the Guardians to a 3 games to 2 lead. These are the kind of opportunities that every player wants and can build a legendary career.
2. Adell Will Need to Hit Rasmussen
Rasmussen has slight reverse splits for his career. He strikes out more than one batter fewer per inning against lefties than he does right-handed hitters. These strikeout numbers have been even more profound this season. Now, left-handed hitters have hit for more power against him, so it does make sense to have them in the lineup… but the Guardians will only have one RHH to start today – Jo Adell. Aside from not letting Rasmussen settle in and get them out in front on his changeups late in counts, something tells me the Guardians will need a contribution from Jo Adell early to have a chance at getting to Rasmussen and into the Tampa Bay pen early. They need to try to see the Tampa best relievers today and win after seeing the Rays’ inner circle of trust yesterday.
3. Defense Will Need to Lock In
Boys, a pennant is on the line. We can’t have the mental and physical lapses in focus we had yesterday to beat these Rays. No one is going to hand you a pennant; you have to go out and take it from them.
4. Be Mindful of Reliver Familiarity
With Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith both not pitching yesterday, expect a heavy dose of those three. At this point in the series, it is advantageous to try to use the former mostly against a part of the order they have yet to see in this series. This goes especially for Shawn Armstrong, Daniel Espino and Tim Herrin if they are used. Five from Parker SHOULD be enough today, but forcing Rays hitters to face your guys only for their first or second time in this series could be a big deal for Stephen Vogt and the Guardians.
Feed off what should be a lively Guardians’ crowd today and get the job done. Immortal glory in sports is within your grasp and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
