Cleveland Guardians Announce ALDS Roster Changes

The Cleveland Guardians are facing a challenging offseason decision regarding starting pitcher Shane Bieber, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and may be sidelined until 2025. With the Guardians currently in a tight ALDS series against the Detroit Tigers, they made a last-minute roster adjustment, replacing Tyler Freeman with Angel Martinez due to Freeman's injury. Manager Stephen Vogt expressed his difficulty in cutting players from the roster, notably leaving off consistent starter Ben Lively, who posted a 3.81 ERA this season. The decisions aim to maximize versatility in the lineup and leverage the bullpen during the five-game series. Vogt indicated that he hopes to utilize pitchers like Alex Cobb, recently recovered from an injury, for upcoming starts. Overall, the Guardians are navigating both playoff strategy and offseason uncertainties simultaneously.