“He can pitch at any time and yes, he can still be considered for whatever we want to call him – short, a little long and somewhere in between,” Hinch said. “He stays ready by continuing to touch the mound (throwing bullpens).”

During Cleveland’s off day, Kenta Maeda and Casey Mize, two pitchers not on the ALDS roster, took live batting practice. Hurter didn’t. Hinch explained why.

“It is almost certain that Kenta and Casey will not play in this series unless there is an injury,” he said. “The other guys have to be ready every day. We have to be careful not to put too much strain on anyone that they are no longer at 100% in the next game.”

It’s a difficult balance. Rookie Ty Madden hasn’t pitched in eight days and looked rusty in a brief appearance in Game 1 on Saturday (three walks, one hit, two runs in two-thirds of an inning).

“It’s a new role for some of these guys,” Hinch said, mentioning Hurter, Madden, Jackson Jobe and Keider Montero. “But it’s an introduction to October baseball. You have to be ready.”

Chris McCosky asks Jackson Jobe how he is preparing to face the Guardians in the ALDS.

Chris McCosky asks Jackson Jobe how he is preparing to face the Guardians in the ALDS.

The Tigers knew who they would face in Game 3, but by name rather than game. 37-year-old right-hander Alex Cobb is a 13-year veteran but has undergone hip surgery and has also struggled with shoulder soreness and blister problems, making only three starts this season.

“I know how competitive he is,” Hinch said. “I saw him from the other side in several uniforms. And one thing I learned is that if multiple teams want you and you end up showing up in a lot of different places, it’s because you’re good.”

The Guardians acquired Cobb from San Francisco at the trade deadline. It was Tigers president Scott Harris who recruited Cobb to the Giants and helped him revive his career. Cobb was an All-Star in 2023.

“He’s going to move the ball,” Hinch said. “He doesn’t throw the same pitch twice and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He lets the ball end up on the ground a lot.”

In his three starts this season, Cobb has relied on his splitter (89 mph), sinker (94 mph) and knuckle curve. He didn’t use a slider or four-seamer, even though both pitches are in his toolbox.

“We have to try to get the ball in the air,” Hinch said. “And we have to capitalize on every mistake and opportunity we get.”

And it would be their job to do this early. Like Boyd, Vogt doesn’t hesitate to unleash his bullpen monsters.

“We had eight or nine very good arms in that bullpen and we trust them all in any situation,” he said. “And that was one of the biggest keys to our success. Anyone could take the ball in any situation, whether left or right. That doesn’t matter. They came in and got the job done.”

“We feel comfortable giving any of these guys the ball at any time.”

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