ALCS Game Four discussion

CLEVELAND, Ohio - October 15, 2026 - The ALCS concluded last night, but the action continues on the American League side. The Tampa Bay Rays will host the Cleveland Guardians in Game Four, featuring a pair of top-half teams by Starting Pitcher fWAR. <source>Nick Martinez</source> will take the mound for Tampa Bay. Despite a 2.9 fWAR and a 2.90 ERA, Martinez's 11.5% K-BB% and 1.10 HR/9 led to a 4.63 SIERA, which is concerning. <source>Martinez</source> already pitched once in the postseason, going 3.2 innings and allowing 2 runs in the series-clinching win over the Yankees. <source>Cleveland</source> has used Foster Griffin, Parker Messick, and Gavin Williams already, so they'll ask their bullpen to deliver the final blow against the Rays and potentially use them heavily in the remainder of the series.

Shawn Armstrong will be the first pitcher out of the Cleveland rotation. It wouldn't surprise me if <source>Tanner Bibee</source> was called upon to pitch a few innings; I would also be surprised if he didn't pitch for a long period. <source>Shawn Armstrong</source> has a history of quickly utilizing his bullpen, which makes sense in a postseason with fewer innings thrown by starting pitchers than I can remember.