N&N: Guardians can’t catch a break with rain

Morning news and notes for Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022

Today should have either been a day of celebration or sadness, but so far it’s just kind of nothing. Following their 1,587th rainout of the season yesterday, the Guardians and Yankees will take another run at finally finishing the longest five-game series ever today at 4 p.m.

While I don’t believe MLB is in cahoots with the Yankees or that Aaron Boone has some magical hold over decision-makers, the rainout certainly benefits the Yankees. Their tattered bullpen gets another rest day, and more importantly, they can start Nestor Cortes instead of Jameson Taillon. Personally, I felt surprisingly confident about winning if a game was played yesterday. There are a lot more nerves now.

For what it’s worth, the Guardians have not announced a Game 5 starter as of this writing. It could still be Aaron Civale, or they could go with Shane Bieber on short rest. Either way, they will have a fully rested bullpen ready to go.

On the bright side, at least Myles Straw had fun during the delay.

Cleveland Guardians news

Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees in winner-take-all Game 5 of ALDS: Matchup postponed until 4:07 p.m. Tuesday | WKYC
This is it (for real this time, hopefully). Everything comes down to the Guards and Yankees playing a mid-afternoon game on a Tuesday. Just like MLB wrote it up.

Inside Yankees-Guardians rain delay disaster: Who’s to blame? | NJ.com
The rain delay itself wasn’t that big of an issue — they happen, just as the Guardians. But MLB’s handling of it was, as NJ.com put it here, a disaster. Gates opened as normal and there was virtually no communication between the league and fans sitting in the cold from the normal start time to when the game was finally called after 9 p.m.

Guardians must find an answer for Harrison Bader’s postseason power surge | Cleveland
It doesn’t matter when or where this game is played, they have to not let Harrison Bader of all people take them deep repeatedly.

Around the league

• The Braves were dramatically better in the darkness this season.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. had a second surgery on his wrist.
• Playoff rounds will overlap for the first time in MLB history today.
• Zack Greinke went undercover at a Mariners-Astros game and no one noticed.
• Dave Roberts will be back as Dodgers manager in 2023.
• An NLCS preview from FanGraphs.
• The Twins are looking at catchers this offseason.
• Stop whining about the playoff format.