Everybody talks about Andres Gimenez, Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan, Amed Rosario, and other Cleveland Guardians breakout performers in 2022.
And they deserve it: all of them took a step forward and unlocked another gear this year.
However, Triston McKenzie rarely gets the credit he deserves as a breakout star.
One of the most focused and competitive pitchers in the American League, McKenzie was ready to watch his team compete Thursday in Game 2.
The weather forecast ruined those plans, however: now, Shane Bieber will pitch on Friday (Game 2, as previously scheduled by manager Terry Francona) and McKenzie will go on Saturday, in Game 3.
McKenzie wasn’t too thrilled to learn that today’s night game was getting rescheduled to Friday.
🤬😒
— Triston 😵💫👁🗨 McKenzie (@T_eazy24) October 13, 2022
The weather forecast was so bad for Thursday that the game was called off around noon, with first pitch scheduled for 7:37 p.m. ET.
Now, the pitching plans for both teams will change: there will be no Bieber (or Nestor Cortes for the Yankees) on three days rest for a hypothetical Game 5.
He Will Be Pitching A Crucial Game Anyway
No matter when he pitches, the stakes will be high for McKenzie and the Guardians: if they lose Game 2, McKenzie will be pitching an elimination game.
If Cleveland ties the series on Friday, McKenzie will be trying to give his team an important 2-1 edge heading into Sunday.
In any case, the young right-hander is good enough to shut down any offense.
In 191.1 innings, he had a great 2.96 ERA and 190 strikeouts.
He also accumulated a solid 3.6 Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, second in the staff behind Bieber.
McKenzie may be upset about the game being called today, but his time will come.
He better be ready.
NEXT: Shane Bieber Is At A Disadvantage For Game 2