Editor’s note: Follow Guardians vs. Tigers live updates and highlights from Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series .
CLEVELAND — Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi isn’t drawing confidence from his previous MLB playoff experience while he prepares for a winner-take-all Game 3 in the AL Wild Card Series .
Instead, Cecconi is leaning on his preparation and conversations with Guardians legend Corey Kluber , a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner who’s on Cleveland ’s coaching staff.
“When a guy like that tells you not to change anything, you probably shouldn't change anything,” Cecconi said Oct. 1 before Game 2 at Progressive Field .
The Guardians tied the best-of-three series 1-1 with a 6-1 win in Game 2 on Oct. 1.
First pitch for Game 3 is set for 3:08 p.m. Oct. 2. The right-handed Cecconi will start opposite Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty .
Guardians news: Defensive identity melts away as Cleveland is burned by Game 1 errors
Avoiding any temptation to stray from routine has been the theme of the advice Cecconi has heard from Kluber, whose title with the Guardians is special assistant, pitching.
“He was really freaking good at what he did,” Cecconi said. “That's why it's so valuable. That guy was incredible, and to have a mind like that around to bounce ideas and questions off of is incredible. A lot of times it's nothing profound. It's just reassuring what you believe to be true, and him with as much experience as he's having say, ‘Yeah, what you've done to get here is what's going to get you through tomorrow or the next game.’”
Cecconi has never started an MLB playoff game before. He did appear in two postseason games out of the Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen during the 2023 NL Championship Series. But Cecconi entered those games late amid blowout losses.
It’s why Cecconi said his preparation is more important than his previous playoff experience.
“It's the beauty of treating every game like a playoff game. You don't have to do anything different when a playoff game shows up,” Cecconi said. “I treat every game with 100% focus, intensity, preparation. I've given everything I've had every time I've taken the mound. That's not going to change.”
Guardians news: Prospect Chase DeLauter set to make MLB debut in playoffs vs Tigers
Cecconi has started 23 Guardians games this season, going 7-7 with a 4.3 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has allowed 125 hits and 66 runs (63 earned) in 132 innings. He has struck out 109 batters and walked 32.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians Game 3 starter vs Tigers will be Slade Cecconi
