Comerica Park’s spacious outfield was the topic of discussion on Tuesday, one day before the Cleveland Guardians and host Detroit Tigers play Game 3 of their American League Division Series.
The AL Central rivals split their first two contests of the best-of-five series. The Guardians cruised to a 7-0 romp in the series opener on Saturday before Kerry Carpenter’s three-run homer in the ninth inning allowed the Tigers to respond with a 3-0 victory on Monday.
Prior to Carpenter’s 423-foot blast off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland right fielder Jhonkensy Noel thwarted fellow rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy’s bid to stretch a single into a double with one out in the fifth inning.
“Defense also wins you games,” Noel said via an interpreter, per Cleveland.com. “On the other hand, if you miss a play on defense, that can cost you a game.”
Perhaps that’s why the Guardians spent a fair portion of their workout on Tuesday focusing on their play in the outfield.
“Just making sure you cut down those angles while at the same time not being too aggressive, letting the ball get by you,” two-time Gold Glove winner Steven Kwan said.
Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb (2-1, 2.76 ERA) will look to keep Detroit in check on Wednesday when he makes his first start since Sept. 1. He has been sidelined by a blister on his middle finger.
Cobb, 37, is 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA in eight career appearances (all starts) against the Tigers.
Detroit has yet to announce its starting pitcher for Game 3.
“We’ve got a lot of options,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Ten of the 12 pitchers we have are going to be available, and we’re going to use them.”
Hinch said the team would make a decision later on Tuesday and inform Guardians manager Stephen Vogt in the evening.
“We’ll devise a plan on how we’re going to lay out the beginning of our pitching,” Hinch said. “We will make sure to let Cleveland know (Tuesday night) so that they can build their lineup and build their strategy as well. We just haven’t come to that determination yet.”
Detroit could turn to left-handers Tyler Holton (7-2, 2.19), Sean Guenther (3-0, 0.86) or Brant Hurter (6-1, 2.58) given Cleveland’s lefty-dominated lineup.
Holton yielded four runs on three hits without recording an out during a disastrous first inning in the series opener. Guenther retired the lone batter he faced on Saturday, while Hurter has been idle since last Wednesday.
Regardless of which Tigers pitcher makes the start for Game 3, the Guardians will be seeking more offensive pop after mustering just three hits on Monday.
Brayan Rocchio became the first rookie in Cleveland history to record a double in his first two postseason games follow his hit on Monday.
As for the Tigers, Malloy had two hits in Game 2 and is 4-for-6 in the postseason. Parker Meadows has hit safely in each of Detroit’s four postseason games, while Matt Vierling reached base four times in Game 2.
–Field Level Media