Bibee, Barlow, Bullpen quiet Tigers bats in Guardians 2-1 win

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Guardians (61-40) have been known as a starting pitching factory, but the 2024 season is proving the team can flex its muscles in the bullpen.

Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee had been pitching a tremendous game, outside of a Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling home run in the 1st inning. The young right-hander had thrown five innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and one run off the Vierling home run.

Having thrown just 67 pitches, Bibee came out to warm-up and throw in the 6th inning. Unfortunately, the starter had to be pulled for lower extremity cramping. In comes veteran reliever Scott Barlow in relief of Bibee, having to warm-up on the mound rather than the bullpen.

How does Barlow and the Guardians bullpen respond?

In four innings, they collectively allowed one base runner off an Emmanuel Clase walk in the ninth inning and struck out five Detroit Tigers.

The Guardians bullpen this season has not only been good… They have been flat out dominant. Wednesday night's 2-1 win over the Tigers was the bullpen’s 38th game with three or more scoreless innings pitched.

In addition to Barlow, one name that has quietly been dominating opposing batters is right-handed flamethrower Hunter Gaddis (4-2, 1.13), who picked up the win. Following striking out the side in the 8th inning, Gaddis bumped up his strikeout-to-walk ratio up to a blistering 6-1, 48 strikeouts to just 8 walks.

Gaddis also extended his career-high scoreless inning streak to 18.2 innings, the longest active streak in all of baseball ahead of Tampa Bay's Taj Bradley (17 innings). He also boasts a 0.35 ERA at Progressive Field this season, allowing just a single run in 25.2 innings.

“It's huge, and it just speaks to the group out there,” Guardians manager said of the bullpen’s job tonight in relief of Bibee. “The preparation that they put in, [bullpen coach Brad Goldberg] has them ready to go. No panic, just take your time. You have plenty of time to get loose.”

Vogt continued, “Barlow's probably done that a number of times in his career, but that early in the game when your starter [is] cruising, you could definitely get ambushed and come in with a little bit of anxiety or a little more adrenaline. … [Scott Barlow] came in and was outstanding, right along with the rest of the bullpen.”

Even catcher Bo Naylor had high praise for the dominant bullpen after another terrific outing.

“[It] shows us how well they prepare,” Naylor said of the bullpen after the game. “They're ready for every moment, even when moments are sprung on them like that. I think it just really shows the type of competitive nature they bring to the game.”

“At any moment, I feel like everyone in that bullpen is ready for the need to be called, to go out there and compete,” Naylor continued. “I know everyone in that locker room is really grateful for the work that they've put in behind the scenes, the way they prepare, and how they go out there and compete for us.”

With the Guardians fresh off a pair of wins, this could be the kind of win that begins the positive momentum this team has been searching for.

I feel like these are the kind of games that get you on runs,” Bibee said in the clubhouse after the win. These are the kind of games that get you on a roll and get you those win streaks, the series wins, especially against a team that's been solid like Detroit. I think that's a really good win, [and] really good at least [series] split.”

On the Mend

As mentioned earlier, Bibee left the game with lower extremity cramping. Following the game, Vogt gave an update about the young starter.

“He's doing all right,” Vogt said of Bibee. Yeah, just had some cramping. [He] probably could have got through it, but you just can't take a risk with him doing something like that. He thought “I'm pretty good out there,” but I had to make a decision. You know, letting him go further could have been a danger to him.”

Bibee spoke a little more about the cramping issue, which isn't new for the young pitcher.

“My last year in college and at some point ever since the Seattle start, I think cramped up a little bit every single time but this time … everything kind of cramped up,” Bibee said after the game.

Bibee has put together a tremendous season for the Guardians, amassing 130 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA in just 115.2 innings. He's also allowed two or less runs in five of his last seven starts.

What's Next?

The Guardians will turn to one of their top starting pitchers Gavin Williams (0-2, 4.50) to try to win the series against the Tigers tomorrow at 1:10 PM.