Analyzing Game Two ALDS Lineup
It’s been released
The Guardians’ lineup is out:
1. Kwan - LF
2. Fry - DH
3. Jose - 3B
4. Thomas - CF
5. Josh Naylor - 1B
6. Noel - RF
7. Gimenez - 2B
8. Hedges - C
9. Rocchio - SS
- Thomas batting cleanup is a clear sign that the Guardians see that he matches up well with Skubal. If Thomas can get a hit or two off of Skubal, that, combined with his game one heroics, will make the trade for him look like a genius move.
- I am surprised to see Hedges get a start. He’s 3 for 8 off of Skubal, but I doubt this is the reason for his start. I think the Guardians believe in Hedges and Boyd being a significant enough advantage that it outweighs Bo’s 88 wRC+ since June 1st (Hedges 20 wRC+), Bo’s career 67 wRC+ vs LHP (Hedges’ career 48 wRC+ vs LHP). I hope they’re right because I’m holding firm to my stance that Hedges should not bat in a playoff series unless he is being put in to bunt in an incredibly rare spot where it would make sense. This also gives the Guardians a chance to bat Kyle Manzardo, Angel Martinez or Daniel Schneemann in the catcher’s spot in the lineup middle-to-late in the game.
- Because of Freeman’s success with high fastballs off of LHP, I expected him to get the start at shortstop today. But, sadly, he strained his oblique in a simulated game yesterday and now Angel Martinez is back as the utility guy/pinch-runner in Freeman’s place. Rocchio also has the team’s confidence defensively at shortstop, so I wasn’t shocked to see him starting even before I saw the Freeman injury news.
- Center-to-right defense in the outfield isn’t great, but the goal is that Noel would continue to put up good at-bats and get to Skubal. If the Guardians can at least work up Skubal’s pitch count and get even a small lead going into the fifth, I’d expect Brennan to be subbed in for defensive purposes.
Let’s see a steady diet of sinkers from Boyd (something the Tigers have struggled to hit), maybe get him through three or four, get a lead, and turn things over the bullpen, again, and hope for the best. May the Guardians’ recent success against left-handed pitching continue.