MLB Player News

As planned, Alvarez took it quite slow on the bases. His double came in the ninth, and he was removed for a pinch-runner afterwards.

Carpenter was seen hobbling off the field after running the bases and was pinch hit for when his spot came up in the batting order again. While Hinch wouldn’t officially comment on Carpenter’s status, he noted that whenever a player has to leave a game it’s concerning. Carpenter’s status for Game 5 of the ALDS on Saturday is up in the air at this point.

McKinstry’s walk in the second inning loaded the bases with no outs, but the Tigers could only score one run. McKinstry led off the fifth inning with a home run to left field that tied the game and chased Guardians’ starter Tanner Bibee. McKinstry has started two games in the series and appeared in another as a defensive replacement.

Ramirez’ home run was his first of the playoffs. He crushed a changeup from Tyler Holton to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Ramirez’ only other hit in the series was the double in the first inning of Game 1 that took a funny hop and was originally scored an error on Zack McKinstry.

Fry pinch hit for Kyle Manzardo with a man on base and two outs in the seventh inning. The Tigers brought in reliever Beau Brieske, who hadn’t allowed a hit yet in the playoffs. Fry quickly changed that with a two-run home run that gave the Guardians the lead. In the ninth inning, Fry laid down a sacrifice bunt on a perfectly executed squeeze play to give Cleveland a much-needed insurance run. Fry is likely to be in the starting lineup in Game 5 as the Tigers will go with the left-handed Tarik Skubal on the mound.

It was quite the bounce back performance for Clase, who entered the game with a one-run lead, two men on base and one out in the eighth inning. Clase escaped the jam unscathed by getting Zack McKinstry to ground out and striking out Trey Sweeney. After the Guardians scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Clase allowed a run of his own in the bottom of the ninth. Still, he shut the door on the Tigers, earning the five-out save and sending the series back to Cleveland for a decisive Game 5 on Saturday.

Olson gave up five hits, walked one and struck out four. He threw 74 pitches. Olson was used as a bulk reliever in Game 1, but got the start in Game 4. It worked better for the Tigers this time, though Detroit still wasn’t able to pull out the win. The Guardians scored on a two-out RBI single by Lane Thomas in the first inning, but that was the only run they’d get off of Olson.

Bibee gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three. The Tigers loaded the bases in the second inning with no outs, but Bibee escaped with only one run scoring as Trey Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly and Jake Rogers lined into a double play. Bibee started the fifth inning, allowed a leadoff home run to Zack McKinstry which tied the game 2-2 and was removed immediately. He was quite as sharp as he was in Game 1 of the series, but still gave the Guardians a solid four innings of work.

Jace Jung pinch hit for Carpenter in the seventh inning. It’s unclear how severe the injury might be, but Detroit’s offense can’t afford to lose Carpenter for any amount of time at this point in the playoffs.

Rojas left Game 3 of the series after aggravating his groin injury. He sat out Game 4 and at best he’ll be available for a pinch hit at-bat in Game 5. Tommy Edman will play shortstop for Los Angeles in Game 5.

Freeman was scratched from the lineup before Game 4. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury he originally suffered in the last week of the regular season. Freeman seemed to aggravate the ankle injury during Game 3 of the series and appeared hobbled despite finishing the game. With the Dodgers season on the line again in Game 5, Freeman appears set to give it a go.