Alright, so the Guardians just dropped a bomb: left-hander Foster Griffin is getting the ball for ALCS Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays. This is not some guess or rumor, it’s official, and honestly, after how they clawed their way here, it’s a statement.
How We Got Here: Grit, A Legend, And A Gamble
The Guardians definitely took the scenic route to this ALCS showdown. We saw Parker Messick throw in ALDS Game 4, then Gavin Williams delivered a performance that the team is calling “legendary” in Game 5 to take down the White Sox. That win pushed them into the ALCS for the second time in three years, which is just insane consistency. Manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t looking past anything, literally saying his approach was “worrying about Monday when we get to Monday” for the October 12th Game 1 against the Rays. With Messick and Williams both unavailable after those intense ALDS games, the team had to pivot hard, and Griffin is their guy.
Foster Griffin: The All-Star Relief Arm Now Leading The Charge
So, why Griffin? This dude was an NL All-Star selection *before* the Guardians snagged him at the trade deadline from the Washington Nationals. He’s not just some random arm either. We saw him in relief during ALDS Game 3, and he looked *electric*. Griffin tossed 2 ⅔ innings, giving up just one run on two hits. The real kicker? He punched out seven of the 11 batters he faced in that outing. That’s pure dominance. The Guardians are clearly leaning into those splits, because the Rays have been absolutely putrid against left-handed pitching this season, ranking 25th in baseball with a measly .679 OPS. Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen is set to counter for the Rays, but you gotta wonder what they’re thinking when they look at Griffin and those numbers.
This is a massive moment for Game 1, kicking off at 8 p.m. It’s especially huge when you consider the Rays won the season series against the Guardians 5-1. Forget what happened then, though. This is a fresh slate, and the Guardians are rolling the dice on a lefty with a nasty recent track record against a lineup that can’t hit southpaws. Monday night is going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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