CLEVELAND — Tanner Bibee is set to take the mound once more against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, having previously struggled during their first encounter. This time, he will start for the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 on Saturday, following a quick exit in Game 2 when manager Stephen Vogt decided to pull him out in the second inning.
Vogt expressed that choosing Bibee again, even on short rest, was an easy decision, considering the right-hander’s impressive performance throughout the season. “He’s been our best pitcher all year,” Vogt noted ahead of Game 3 on Friday. “I can’t wait to get him back out there, and he feels good. He feels ready. He wants to pitch again, so we’re excited to have Tanner back out there.”
In his previous outing against the Yankees, Bibee lasted just 1 1/3 innings, where he allowed five hits in that short period. Vogt had opted for hard-throwing reliever Cade Smith to replace him during the second inning to confront Aaron Judge, a pivotal player for New York.
Reflecting on his earlier performance, Bibee remarked, “It’s not like I went out there and threw 100 pitches and about to go out there and do it again. I threw 39 pitches. I feel good. I’m ready to go.” He mentioned that Vogt had informed him shortly after the game on Tuesday that he might be called upon to start again, prompting him to prepare accordingly.
In this matchup, Bibee will face Carlos Rodón of the Yankees, who secured a victory in Game 1 by allowing only one run and three hits over six innings. Although Bibee felt disappointed about not being able to pitch longer in Game 2, he acknowledged the manager’s decision.
“Vogt has given me some leash earlier on in the year, and it just comes down to trying to win the game, but I get that,” he stated. “It’s just some stuff I’m not going to like. But it’s not my job to like it. It’s my job to get outs.”
