Guardians give Foster Griffin the ALCS opener against Rays

Foster Griffin will start Game 1 of the American League Championship Series for the Cleveland Guardians against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night, manager Stephen Vogt announced Sunday.

The left-hander gets the assignment after Cleveland used Parker Messick and Gavin Williams to finish its comeback against the White Sox in the Division Series. Messick started Game 4 on Thursday, while Williams pitched Game 5 on Saturday after also making an emergency relief appearance in Game 4. Neither is available to start Monday on normal rest.

Griffin last pitched Wednesday, when he struck out seven and allowed one run over 2 2/3 relief innings in Cleveland’s 9-3 Game 3 win. That performance set a franchise postseason record for strikeouts by a reliever and helped the Guardians stay alive after losing the first two games of the series.

He will face Drew Rasmussen at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern, with the best-of-seven series deciding the American League’s World Series representative.

The matchup gives Cleveland a chance to test Tampa Bay against a left-handed starter. The Rays had a .679 OPS against lefties during the regular season, ranking 25th in MLB, compared with a .752 OPS against right-handers, fourth in the league. Those splits provide context for the assignment; they do not establish how Monday’s game will unfold.

Griffin, 31, returned to the major leagues this year after spending three seasons in Japan. He earned an All-Star selection with Washington before Cleveland acquired him at the trade deadline. He posted a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts for the Nationals and a 5.19 ERA in nine starts for the Guardians.

His Cleveland record included an eight-run outing against Baltimore on September 9. Over his other eight starts for the Guardians, he had a 3.73 ERA in 41 innings, according to the team’s official report. His last regular-season start came September 23 in Boston, where he allowed one run over six innings and struck out seven.

Vogt did not announce the rest of Cleveland’s ALCS rotation Sunday. The Guardians enter with a short turnaround after Saturday’s clincher, while Tampa Bay advanced by sweeping the Yankees. The Rays won five of the teams’ six regular-season meetings.

Griffin, Vogt and Jo Adell met with reporters Sunday ahead of the series. The Guardians published their media availability on the club’s official channel.

MLB also published Griffin’s interview about the Game 1 assignment on the Guardians’ official site.

Sources

MLB: Foster Griffin discusses starting ALCS Game1 · Guardians name Griffin to open ALCS · Akron Beacon Journal: Griffin will start ALCS opener

Monday ALCS roster update

Cleveland added Slade Cecconi and removed Daniel Schneemann from its ALCS roster Monday, increasing the staff from 12 to 13 pitchers. The right-hander gives Stephen Vogt another option for multiple innings after a demanding Division Series. Cecconi made 21 starts during the regular season before moving to relief; he went beyond one inning in five of his seven bullpen appearances.

The move reduces Cleveland’s infield depth. Rookie Angel Genao is the remaining reserve who can cover shortstop, second and third, while David Fry provides additional coverage at third. Schneemann did not play in the Division Series.

Tampa Bay made a different adjustment, replacing left-hander Garrett Cleavinger with right-hander Brody Hopkins while keeping 12 pitchers and 14 position players. Hopkins struck out seven but walked six over 5 1/3 major-league innings in September. Cleavinger was on the Division Series roster but did not pitch.

Those changes set the bullpen options behind Griffin and Drew Rasmussen as the best-of-seven series opens. The roster announcements do not change the previously announced Game 1 starters.

Roster report sources

Guardians: Cecconi replaces Schneemann · Rays: Hopkins in, Cleavinger out · Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians ALCS roster