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Tigers vs. Guardians start pitchers Game 3 of ALDS

Posted on by Vanessa
Tigers vs. Guardians start pitchers Game 3 of ALDS

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We quickly look ahead to the Detroit Tigers' next playoff game and are once again at a loss as to who their starting player will be.

The Tigers play at home in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians for the first time since Oct. 5, 2014, a 2-1 loss in Game 3 to the Baltimore Orioles, ending their season in the ALDS. The series is tied after Kerry Carpenter gave the Tigers a 3-0 win with a three-run home run in Cleveland on Monday.

The Tigers only have one pitcher in their rotation and have full confidence in Tarik Skubal, who dominated in Game 2 on Monday. They have been using an opener and bulk reliever strategy since late July when they traded No. 2 starter Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tickets for Tigers-Cle Game 3 can be found on StubHub

Whoever the Tigers start against will be Guardians veteran right-hander Alex Cobb.

The Tigers have used bully in the strike zone left-hander Tyler Holton as the opener in the two non-Skubal starts (Game 2 vs. Houston, Game 1 vs. Cleveland). That didn't work on Saturday afternoon, when all four Guardians batters reached base against the 28-year-old (three hits, one walk).

IN THE GAME: Do you think the Tigers' story can't get any better? They just proved you wrong. Again.

But the Tigers likely won't go with right guard Beau Brieske, an in-season favorite; He appears to be the closest after earning the win in Cleveland on Monday and earning the save in both wins against the Astros in the wild-card series. The 26-year-old threw 3⅓ hitless innings, including two walks and three strikeouts.

Likewise, right-hander Reese Olson likely won't be available until Game 4 on Thursday after pitching five innings in Saturday's loss. His only error was a hanging slider to Lane Thomas for a three-run home run. Rookie righty Keider Montero is also an option, although he threw two scoreless innings in Game 1 with one hit allowed and three strikeouts.

GAME 2 STARTER: Tarik Skubal delivered one of the Detroit Tigers' most dominant postseasons ever

For the Guardians, Cobb's blister has healed enough to get started. The 6-foot-3 right-hander went 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in just three starts this season, but has played two simulated games in recent weeks and is ready to play. Cobb, 37, was an All-Star for the San Francisco Giants last season (7-7, 3.87 ERA).

Cobb (79-76, 3.84 career ERA) threw a total of 16⅓ innings on August 9, August 14 and September 1. In his last start, he pitched six two-hit innings against Pittsburgh, allowing one unearned run and striking out six with no walks.

Cobb played in the playoffs with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013, making two starts (1-0, 1.54 ERA) over 11⅔ innings.

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