CLEVELAND — Following one of the most remarkable campaigns we’ve ever seen from a relief pitcher, it was hard not to get excited about the first time Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase would enter a postseason game in a high-leverage situation against the opponent’s best bat.
In Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday, we got our first look at such a showdown, as Clase entered in the late stages of a classic postseason pitchers’ duel with the score stuck at 0-0. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had managed to one-up his outstanding playoff debut last week in Houston, with seven nearly flawless frames against a Guardians lineup that hardly stood a chance.