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Tigers vs Guardians starting pitchers Game 3 of ALDS

Vaseline October 8, 2024

Fast forward to the Detroit Tigers’ next playoff game, and once again we don’t know who their starting pitcher will be.

The Tigers will play at home on Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALDS vs. the Cleveland Guardians for the time since October 5, 2014, a 2–1 loss in Game 3 to the Baltimore Orioles to end their season in the ALDS. The series is tied after Kerry Carpenter’s three-run home run gave the Tigers a 3-0 victory in Cleveland on Monday.

The Tigers have just one pitcher in their rotation and are relying entirely on Tarik Skubal, who dominated in Game 2 on Monday. They have been using an opener and bulk reliever strategy since late July, when they traded No. 2 starter Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers from Los Angeles.

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Whoever the Tigers start will be opposed by right-handed Guardians veteran Alex Cobb.

The Tigers have used lefty Tyler Holton as The Opener in the two non-Skubal starts (Game 2 vs. Houston, Game 1 vs. Cleveland). That didn’t work on Saturday afternoon, when all four Guardians batters reached base vs. the 28-year-old (three hits, one walk).

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But the Tigers likely won’t go with Beau Brieske, a preseason favorite; he looks to be the closer after Monday’s win in Cleveland and earning the save in both wins against the Astros in the wild-card series. The 26-year-old threw 3⅓ hitless innings, walking two and striking out three.

Likewise, right-hander Reese Olson is likely unavailable until Thursday’s Game 4 after pitching five innings in Saturday’s loss, with his only error a hanging slider to Lane Thomas for a three-run homer. Rookie righty Keider Montero is also an option, though he pitched two scoreless innings in Game 1, with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.

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For the Guardians, Cobb’s blister has healed enough to begin. The 6-foot-1 right-hander went 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in just three starts this season, but has pitched two simulated games in recent weeks and is ready to go. Cobb, 37, was an All-Star last season for the San Francisco Giants (7-7, 3.87 ERA).

Cobb (79-76, 3.84 career ERA) pitched on August 9, August 14 and September 1, throwing a total of 16⅓ innings. In his last start, he pitched six two-hit innings against Pittsburgh, allowing one unearned run and striking out six with no walks.

Cobb pitched in the 2013 playoffs with the Tampa Bay Rays, making two starts (1-0, 1.54 ERA) over 11⅔ innings.

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