First pitch of the ALDS is set for 7:37 p.m. ET tonight. Rosters are not officially due for another hour from now, and lineups probably won’t come until this afternoon, but one thing we do know for sure right now is the pitching matchup.
On paper, Cal Quantrill versus Gerrit Cole is less than an ideal matchup for the Guardians. Quantrill is good, and at times looks great, but Cole is an elite of the elite, even if in a down year. He has still put up outstanding numbers (200.2 IP, 3.50 ERA, 90 ERA-, 22.7 KK-B%), but that’s a relatively weak year for a perennial Cy Young contender.