Dissecting Bibee's postseason usage and what comes next

CLEVELAND -- Manager Stephen Vogt and right-hander Tanner Bibee took a 40-minute walk before the Guardians’ season-ending 7-3 loss to the Rays in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

It provided Bibee an open channel of communication.

Bibee led the Guardians in starts (33) and innings pitched (188) during the regular season. Though he logged a career-high 4.36 ERA, his postseason usage was glaring.

Bibee made just one appearance across 11 games, despite moments when it could have made sense for the Guardians to call his number.

“Obviously, he was upset, and I empathized with that and I gave him the reasoning for what was going on,” Vogt said during the Guardians’ end-of-season media availability last week. “We had a similar conversation in his exit interview.

“It was very candid. It was very open. He spoke his mind, and we gave him our reasoning.”

• Vogt affirms he'll be back as Guardians' skipper in 2027

President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti noted Bibee was a likely candidate to start Game 1 or 2 of the World Series, had the Guardians advanced. Ultimately, Bibee faced just three batters in the playoffs, walking two and striking out one in Game 3 of the ALDS against the White Sox.

What happened?

Three off-days during the ALDS allowed the Guardians to give co-aces Parker Messick and Gavin Williams two starts apiece. In between, Daniel Espino opened Game 3 for left-hander Foster Griffin.

Cleveland felt a lefty was the best matchup against Chicago’s lineup in a win-or-go-home Game 3. Griffin allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. The Guards also wanted to lean on lefties against the Rays. Griffin started Game 1 of the ALCS and threw four innings, then tossed 3 2/3 innings in relief of opener Shawn Armstrong in Game 4.

Armstrong also opened an all-hands-on-deck Game 6. The Guardians preferred him matching up against the top of the Rays' order, which included stars Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero.

Griffin, Messick (Games 2 and 5) and Williams (Game 3) starting meant Bibee merely served as a length option for potential extra innings or a blowout during the ALCS, even after Game 4 was postponed one day -- meaning the Guardians’ staff faced a heavy workload with games scheduled on four consecutive days.

“It wasn't our intent for Tanner to throw to three hitters throughout the postseason,” Vogt said. “It's just the way it played out."

Bibee obviously wanted to pitch more, but offered a measured perspective after the Game 6 loss to Tampa Bay.

“I trust whatever they're thinking,” Bibee said. “My role is to be ready at any point. It just didn’t happen.”

The goal is for history not to repeat itself.

Bibee said he wasn't as consistent as he would like the past two seasons. He was the Guardians' 2026 Opening Day starter, but his campaign ended with him logging a 7.36 ERA in 25 2/3 innings over five September starts. That likely played into what transpired in October.

The Guardians expect to count on Bibee every five days into October, not pass over him on the biggest stage. One of his focuses entering the winter is on optimization.

“It was kind of a weird year,” Bibee said. “This year and last year made me realize that I need to make some changes, and I'm willing to do that. I'm ready to do it. Especially these past three weeks made me realize that I'm willing to do whatever, honestly, at this point."

As Vogt put it, the goal is for Bibee to find a baseline to anchor himself to. It's not an overhaul, but identifying the Plan 'A' version of himself, and how he can stick to it over the course of the season.

“How do you make some of those small tweaks,” general manager Mike Chernoff added, “whether it's mechanical or pitch usage or whatever, to get him back to that base that can be so strong? It’s not a massive overhaul of something.

“I don't want to speak for him. But I think we would view it that way, and I'm guessing he was sort of aligned towards that rather than the overhaul.”

The Guardians are invested in it paying off. The extension Bibee signed last year runs through 2029 and includes a club option for '30. Cleveland inked that deal viewing Bibee as a long-term anchor in the rotation.

Vogt said he and Bibee came to a "really good place" during their walk. The Guards are aligned with the right-hander heading into the winter as he looks to get where he wants to be.

"Tanner is going to be a huge part of this team for a long time, and I’m really excited about that," Vogt said.