Travis

Bazzana

If you’re keeping track at home, it’s also the same lineup that they deployed in victories in Game 1 and 3 of the series. Battling Rays’ right-hander Drew Rasmussen is always a very difficult assignment, but they managed to earn a victory against him in Game 1, so they know that it can be done. Here’s the full lineup that manager Stephen Vogt has turned in for the Guardians’ most critical game of the season on Sunday: Steven Kwan (LF), José Ramírez (3B), Chase DeLauter (RF), Jo Adell (DH), Nathaniel Lowe (1B), Travis Bazzana (2B), Patrick Bailey (C), Petey Halpin (CF) and Brayan Rocchio (SS).

Bazzana lined a homer into right to get the Guardians back into it at 5-2. The former first-overall pick also singled and walked in easily his best postseason game of his brief career. Bazzana will likely be in the lineup Sunday in a massive Game 5 against Tampa Bay on Sunday in Cleveland.

Even though the Guardians only scored three runs in the contest, the Guardians feel like that’s the best possible lineup that they are able to put on the field against an opposing right-hander, so there’s no need to change anything up. Game 3 hero Petey Halpin will start in center field and bat eighth. Here’s the full lineup that they’ll deploy against Rays’ right-hander Nick Martinez as they look to take a commanding 3-1 advantage in the series: Steven Kwan (LF), Jose Ramírez (3B), Chase DeLauter (RF), Jo Adell (DH), Nathaniel Lowe (1B), Travis Bazzana (2B), Patrick Bailey (C), Petey Halpin (CF) and Brayan Rocchio (SS).

Ramírez served as Cleveland’s primary offensive catalyst, sparking a memorable comeback to take down the division-rival White Sox in a decisive Game 5 to reach the ALCS for the first time since 2016. The 34-year-old franchise cornerstone hit .417 (5-for-12) with two homers and seven RBI during the final three games of the series. They’ll face a tough challenge against Rays ace Drew Rasmussen at Tropicana Field to kick off the best-of-seven series. Here’s the full lineup: Steven Kwan (LF), Ramírez (3B), Chase DeLauter (RF), Jo Adell (DH), Nathaniel Lowe (1B), Travis Bazzana (2B), Patrick Bailey (C), Petey Halpin (CF) and Brayan Rocchio (SS).

The Guardians were able to stave off elimination with a victory in Game 3 on Wednesday and they’ll run back an almost identical lineup as they try to do the same in Game 4. The only change will be Hedges catching instead of Patrick Bailey. Here’s the full lineup for the Guardians in a must-win spot against Hagen Smith and company on Thursday evening in Chicago: Steven Kwan (CF), Jose Ramirez (3B), Chase DeLauter (RF), Jo Adell (DH), Nathaniel Lowe (1B), Angel Martinez (LF), Travis Bazzana (2B), Hedges (C) and Brayan Rocchio (SS).

Bazzana has 14 home runs on the season. He hit a solo shot off Chris Murphy in the first inning and another solo shot off Davis Martin in the sixth inning. Bazzana has been more of a solid contributor than difference maker in fantasy so far. He’s hitting .252 with 14 home runs, 19 stolen bases, 52 runs scored and 56 RBI.

Lewis is back handling first base and hitting fifth after missing just one game with shoulder soreness. The 27-year-old has piled up 14 homers and 14 steals in 462 plate appearances this season, but he doesn’t offer enough batting average upside or counting stats to be relevant outside of extremely deep formats.

The homer was his 12th through 112 games, and the steal was his 19th. Bazzana has been hitting well of late, but he had been stuck on 18 steals since Aug. 21, going 0-for-1 in his previous 16 games.

Bazzana has started only three of the Guardians’ last six games, but he’s come up big in all of those and in his one appearance off the bench during the span. Over the four games, he’s collected two homers, two doubles, three singles and eight RBI, all in Cleveland victories. He’s back up to .244/.345/.387 for the season. It’s unclear if that will win him back any time against lefties, but it doesn’t matter for the near future; the Guardians aren’t slated to face any southpaws over the next week.

Talk about taking over a game. Down two in the eighth, Bazzana socked a two-run shot to tie the game up. Then in the 10th, he laced a game-winning single to give the Guardians their second walk-off hit of the day during their double-header sweep against the Tigers. Funny enough, Bazzana didn’t even start this game with a left-handed pitcher on the mound, but came in when Chase DeLauter left with an injury. He’s had a rough second half with a .692 OPS and has lost some playing time, so it was nice to see him take a big step in the right direction.