News and Notes - Tanner Bibee is an Ace

Guardians offense unable to rally behind aggressive Bibee start.

Tanner Bibee is the ace for the Cleveland Guardians. Despite last night’s box score, this is now irrefutable.

The right handed starter looked shaky and unsure to start the game; giving up a double, a triple, and a sac fly to leave the bottom of the 1st with the Detroit Tigers up 2-0 on the Guardians. In the bottom of the 3rd Bibee gave up a 2-run homer. Going into the bottom of the 4th an errant fast ball caught the hand of the home plate umpire who ultimately had to leave the game. This led to a slight delay while umpires moved around and the new home plate ump donned his gear. Something clicked for Bibee during this delay. The high pitches he had been throwing up until this point started settling down and he put up his first 1-2-3 inning of the game. In the bottom of the 5th Matt Vierling was hit by pitch with two outs. Riley Greene then followed up with a single to center field. Vierling attempted to be aggressive in his base running, but was thrown out at home in a relay from Brayan Rocchio to Bo Naylor.

Bibee continued into the 6th with another 1-2-3 inning and came out in the 7th to face the 8 and 9 Detroit hitters. With a pitch count of 104, Jake Rogers hit a fly out to left field for the 2nd out of the inning. Steven Vogt came on to relieve Tanner Bibee. Tanner Bibee was not going to give up that mound. Not to editorialize too much, but during the conversation at the mound, with Bibee refusing to hand over the ball, there was a fire in the pitcher’s eye that I don’t think we as fans have seen at that intensity from the 25-year-old starter. There was a brief conversation between pitcher and manager and for the second time this season, Steven Vogt returned to the dugout and Tanner Bibee remained on the mound in search of the final out. In 5 pitches, Tanner Bibee struck out Wenceel Pérez to retire the side - another 1-2-3 inning.

Tanner Bibee finished the night having allowed 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and striking out 8. His record falls to 7-4 on the season and his ERA now sits at a 3.77 with a 1.12 WHIP in 105.0 IP. Something additional to note; Bibee’s velocity compared to previous starts. According to Baseball Savant his fastest 4-seamer only hit 95.2 mph and only averaged around 91.1 mph over the course of the night.

Sam Hentges took over in the 8th inning. He gave up a solo home run that ultimately was the difference maker. In 1.0 innings of work, Hentges allowed 2 hits, 1 run, and struck out 1.

Cleveland offense tried to stay in it throughout the game, but fell short in the final moments. Angel Martínez continued his impressive major league start with a 2-run ground-rule double that tied the game in the 3rd. In the top of the 4th, Daniel Schneemann hit a solo home run to put the Guardians within 1 run after the Tigers had retaken the lead.

It all came down to the top of the 9th when Josh Naylor and David Fry both drew walks to start the inning. Gabriel Arias replaced David Fry as a pinch-runner. In the following at bat, both J. Naylor and Arias advanced on a wild pitch. Andrés Giménez hit a sacrifice fly that scored Josh Naylor and brought the Guardians back to within 1 run of the Tigers. Tyler Freeman then reached on a fielder’s choice, but ran through 1st base instead of rounding to 2nd. Gabriel Arias was caught in a perfectly executed run down between 3rd base and home plate. Freeman ended up at 2nd for Brayan Rocchio who was intentionally walked by the Tigers to bring up Austin Hedges to bat with runners in scoring position and two outs. It went as expected, Hedges grounded out to retire the side.

There were some questionable pinch hitting decisions this game that ultimately led to Austin Hedges being in the position he was last night. Every team is dragging themselves to the All-Star Break and trying to piece together clean wins. Once the team emerges on the other side of the mid-summer classic they will have drafted new talent, have some pieces returning to the line up, a rested bullpen and rotation, and a game plan for the trade deadline. Here’s to hoping that rejuvenates the team to early season form and generates enough momentum to carry them at a similar pace in the 2nd half of the season.

AL Central Standings:

Cleveland Guardians - 57-34

Minnesota Twins - 53-40 - 5.0 GB

Kansas City Royals - 51-43 - 7.5 GB

Detroit Tigers - 44-49 - 14.0 GB

Chicago White Sox - 27-68 - 32.0 GB

Despite their struggles against the Tigers, the Cleveland Guardians remain in 1st place in the American League. The Baltimore Orioles are breathing down their neck and only in 2nd place because they have played (and lost) one more game than the Guardians. The New York Yankees had a recent skid of 3-7 over the last 10. They are currently 2.5 GB from the Guardians in the AL. The Guardians are 2.5 GB from the Philadelphia Phillies for best overall record in the league.

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Cleveland Guardians News:

Will Brennan made his 1st rehab start with the Columbus Clippers on Wednesday as the DH.

Terry Pluto wrote an article about the potential 1.1 draft pick.

José Ramírez and Josh Naylor become 2nd batting duo in franchise history to record 70+ RBI each before the All-Star Break. The first duo to achieve this was Jim Thome and Manny Ramírez.

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Around the League:

The Home Run Derby Roster is officially set.

The Philadelphia Phillies become the first team to reach 60 wins this season.

Michael Kopech throws White Sox first immaculate inning since 1923 in victory over the Twins.