CLEVELAND -- Steven Kwan and the Guardians have been on each side of this equation the past two seasons. In 2024, they had a first-round bye in the postseason. In ‘25, they jumped right into action in the AL Wild Card Series.
Kwan sees the benefit of each -- the opportunity to keep momentum rolling versus getting a reprieve after the grind of the 162-game season. He and the American League Central champion Guardians are happy to have the latter this year.
“I definitely think there's something to be said about being hot and staying hot, but that might be a little more gimmicky if maybe the team isn't so stable,” Kwan said. “We have a really good squad behind us, so I think the rest mentally and physically is going to do us wonders for the Division Series."
The Guardians will open postseason play on Saturday, when they host Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the White Sox at Progressive Field. Chicago completed a sweep of the Astros in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series on Wednesday to advance.
While the Wild Card Series take place, the Guardians have navigated their bye week by striking a balance of maximizing their rest while working to avoid potential rust setting in.
“It's helping already. We already have guys feeling better,” manager Stephen Vogt said Wednesday afternoon.
Vogt noted over the weekend the Guardians were on “fumes” amid a high-stakes end of the regular season, in which they finished 9-3 to capture the division title. Monday was a full off-day, during which players spent time together on the golf course as a reset after the regular season’s conclusion.
Tuesday, the Guardians held a workout day at Progressive Field featuring a five-inning simulated game. Prospect Yorman Gómez, Logan Allen and Carlos Hernández pitched, and all of the position players batted in groups of three.
The Guardians had a six-inning sim game scheduled as part of Wednesday’s workout, and another sim game planned for Thursday. Each reliever has touched the mound and will throw at least one simulated inning this week.
The balance there is ensuring those guys get some down time; the Guardians’ bullpen ranked fifth in MLB in innings pitched (110 1/3) in September.
Vogt said the Guardians are following a similar template to when they had a bye in 2024, but have added some nuanced details. Their plan boils down to taking advantage of the time off to rest, but going through reps at game-like speed to stay sharp.
“Our guys are getting after it,” Vogt said. “They're working hard. We're getting game-like reps the best we can do, and hopefully it continues to go well the next two days. But this layoff is going to really help us get back to zero and get some of our guys some much needed rest.
“We feel really good about where we are."
Rotation plans
Vogt noted the Guardians had not finalized their rotation plan for the ALDS quite yet, and expect to have an answer in the next day or two.
Cleveland’s 26-man roster is also coming into focus.
“There's a lot of things that we need to figure out before we can really set the roster,” Vogt said. “But we're definitely close.”
Right-hander Gavin Williams and lefty Parker Messick figure to be the Guardians’ first two starters, in some order. They were Cleveland’s staff anchors this season and could make two starts apiece, if needed, in the ALDS. The larger question is who pitches Game 3, between Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Foster Griffin or an opener such as Daniel Espino.
Vogt met the media on Wednesday before the White Sox beat the Astros to advance to the ALDS, which perhaps could have been one factor behind the rotation picture not being crystalized. The White Sox had six left-handed hitters and one switch-hitter on their 14-man position player group for the Wild Card Series. The Astros’ 14-man mix had nine righties.
Holderman and Hoskins working out
Right-hander Colin Holderman and first baseman Rhys Hoskins have been working out this week. Vogt noted the Guardians are not yet sure of their potential availability for the ALDS.
Holderman has been throwing bullpen sessions. He went on the 15-day IL on Sept. 4 with right wrist inflammation and made one rehab appearance, on Sept. 17 with Triple-A Columbus. But he exited after his wrist issue cropped up and ultimately missed the rest of the regular season.
Holderman got an injection on Sept. 19 and then began to resume his build-up.
Hoskins, who was one of Cleveland’s top offseason additions, went on the 10-day IL on Aug. 19 with lower back inflammation and missed the rest of the regular season. He's participating in the simulated games.