The Cleveland Guardians are done celebrating their victory over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series. It's on to the American League Championship Series and a date with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The series will get underway at the Tropicana Dome Monday night, and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt will send left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin to the mound in an attempt to quiet the powerful Rays.
Vogt has to go with a pitcher who appeared in just 9 games with the Guardians during the regular season because they used ace starter Gavin Williams in Game 5 of the ALDS to advance past the White Sox. The Guardians made a memorable comeback in the series as they lost the first two games of the series at home before they won two games in Chicago to tie the series. They secured a 2-0 victory in the decisive game of the series at Progressive Field.
Griffin is a 30-year-old journeyman pitcher who split the season between the Washington Nationals and the Guardians. He finished the regular season with a combined 15-6 record and a 3.60 earned run average. He struck out 158 batters in 172.2 innings.
Griffin pitched 2.2 innings in the ALDS and allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run against the White Sox.
Article Continues BelowThe Rays have been waiting at home for an opponent because they swept the New York Yankees in their ALDS series. The Rays will send Drew Rasmussen to the mound. He is coming off a sensational effort against the Yankees.
Rasmussen pitched 8.0 innings, struck out 10 and walked 2 batters. He shut down the Yankees in Game 1 of the series, earning a 1-0 victory.