Lively replaces Cobb (back strain) on Guardians' ALCS roster

NEW YORK -- The second that Guardians starter Alex Cobb started to show signs of discomfort during his start in Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday, manager Stephen Vogt had to start thinking through every possibility.

Immediately after his start, Cobb was sent for tests that revealed an acute lower back strain, which will prevent him from making his scheduled Game 5 start. And if the Guardians already knew that he’d be out of commission for the weekend, they decided to replace him on the roster as soon as possible. Prior to Game 2 on Tuesday, Major League Baseball approved Cleveland’s request to remove Cobb and add Ben Lively.

“First of all, I have to talk about how bummed we are for Alex,” Vogt said. "Everything he's been through this year and with us in and out, IL, off the IL, and for him to have a new back strain last night, I just feel for him and what he's been through and so thankful for what he gave us.”

It’s a difficult ending to process for Cobb, who will now be ineligible for the World Series roster if the Guardians advance. He was limited to three regular-season starts and two short playoff outings in all of 2024 because of his recovery from offseason left hip surgery, right shoulder trouble, two blisters and a split fingernail. A relatively common flare up of hip tendinitis occurred on Tuesday night, but this time, it caused a trickle-down effect into his back. At the time, he hoped it was just back spasms, but tests revealed a strain instead.

So now, the Guardians have to figure out the rest of their pitching plans.

It seems safe to assume Matthew Boyd will get the ball in Game 3 on Thursday. Gavin Williams appears to be lined up to make his first playoff start in Game 4 on Friday. But without Cobb to take the ball in Game 5, assuming the series lasts that long, all eyes may now be on Lively.

It’s nothing new for Lively, who made 29 starts for the Guardians this season. At times this summer, he was the most reliable man in the rotation, consistently eating up innings without giving up too much damage. But as his innings total started to climb, his results began to wane. It’s largely the reason why Cleveland decided to leave him off the ALDS roster and the ALCS roster until he was needed to replace Cobb.

“It was tough,” Lively said of not competing in the playoffs so far. “I pushed myself pretty hard this year just to get the first time getting this opportunity to be in the playoffs, and yeah, it's done, but I'm going to use it [as motivation].”

For now, Vogt said that Lively could be used out of the bullpen, if needed. He’s had experience as a reliever all throughout his big league career. This was his first Major League season without making at least one appearance in relief. But the Guardians will probably need a starter on Saturday rather than just relying on the bullpen because there aren’t as many off-days in this series as they benefited from in the ALDS. With full workloads expected for the ‘pen on Thursday and Friday, it’d be difficult to then turn to a bullpen game on Saturday in a potential win-or-go-home game.

That leaves Lively, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 28. But the righty has been approaching every day as if he needed to stay ready to start. He’s confident that the work he’s put in will keep him sharp for Saturday, should the Guardians need him.

And if Cleveland wins just one game between the time he was added to the roster and Saturday, Lively may be the one on the mound with the season on the line.

“Ben's been one of our most consistent starters,” Vogt said. “I think the thing with Ben is he's uber competitive. He attacks the zones. He throws strikes. He has the ability to keep people off balance.

“We trust him. We love having him. We know he's going to go out and compete and give us everything he has.”