The Cleveland Guardians hired a pitching analyst that data on reliever over-usage, but continued to over-use its bullpen. How can the team adapt its approach for future success?

Justin Lada and Jeff Ellis dissect the Guardians' over-reliance on certain relievers, exploring data on batter-pitcher familiarity and its impact on playoff performance. The show analyzes potential improvements to Cleveland's bullpen management, including deeper starts and diversifying reliever usage. We also dive into Trade Talk Thursday to consider targets like Jacob Melton, Brendan Donovan, and the intriguing possibility of acquiring Ketel Marte from the Diamondbacks.

Join the discussion with insights on how the Guardians can optimize their pitching strategy and bolster their roster for a deeper postseason run in 2026.

0:00 Intro: Guardians' bullpen over-reliance in postseason

5:30 Data shows hitters improve vs relievers in playoffs

15:35 How Guardians can improve bullpen usage in 2026

22:29 Jeff's trade target: Astros' Jacob Melton

25:38 Justin's trade targets: Cardinals' Donovan and Nootbaar

30:26 Discussing potential trades with Cardinals

34:26 Outro: More trade ideas coming in future episodes

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