It’s bad news, good news time for two postseason hopefuls: Guardians takeaways

ST. LOUIS - A day after the Guardians clinched a playoff spot, the business of baseball resumed for manager Stephen Vogt, his coaches and players.

Vogt, the front office and his staff have been discussing what their postseason rotation will look like. With eight games left before the end of the regular season, it's looking more and more that Alex Cobb is going to be lucky to be part of it.

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Cobb was scheduled to throw a simulated game for Class AAA Columbus on Thursday in Toledo, but that was scratched.

"The blister isn't quite ready to pitch," said manager Stephen Vogt. "He's going to be building volume before he gets into a game. He's not quite ready to pitch yet."

The news is better on Gold Glover Steven Kwan. The All-Star left fielder, who was doing running drills at Busch Stadium on Friday afternoon, is expected to come off the injured list Tuesday.

"We're targeting Tuesday," said Vogt. "His progressive is going well."

Angel Martinez has done a nice job filling in for Kwan in the leadoff spot and in left field.

It has been a season to forget for Cobb, who opened on the injured list following surgery on his left hip while playing for the Giants. The Guardians traded for him at the July 30 deadline even though he had not thrown a pitch in the big leagues all season.

Cobb (2-1, 2.76) has made three solid starts for the Guardians, but he can't stay off the IL. He tore the finger nail on the index finger of his right hand for his first trip to the IL. On Sept. 1 he returned and retired 18 straight Pirates in a 6-1 win. But in the game he developed a blister on the middle finger of his right hand and hasn't pitched since.

Time is the one thing Cobb needs and it is in short supply. There are 10 days left before the end of the season. If the Guardians maintain their spot as one of the two teams with the best record in the AL, they would earn a bye in the first round of the postseason and go straight to the ALDS.

The ALDS starts on Oct. 5 with the best of three wild-card round starting on Oct. 1. It's unclear if that will be enough time to get Cobb ready.

As it is the top three starters in Cleveland's rotation could be Tanner Bibee, Matthew Boyd and Gavin Williams. Ben Lively, who entered Friday's start against the Cardinals with 12 wins, is another possibility. So is rookie lefty Joey Cantillo.

Whoever gets the call, the Guardians' bullpen is going to play a big role in determining how deep they get into the postseason.

This is Kwan's second trip to the IL this season. He has had a season of extremes. He was hitting .352 (99 for 281) with nine homers and 27 RBI at the All-Star break.

Since the break, Kwan is hitting .201 (39 for 194) with four homers and 16 RBI.

Celebrate good times The Guardians' charter flight from Cleveland to St. Louis after Thursday's clincher against the Twins was "loud and noisy," said Vogt.

When Guardians arrived at their hotel, everyone went to a team dinner at Morton's steak house.

Here's what has to happen for the Guardians to clinch the AL Central.

They can clinch the Central on Saturday if they win Friday and Saturday vs. St. Louis along with Kansas City losing once against the Giants on Friday or Saturday.

Or they can clinch the AL Central with one win Friday or Saturday combined with Kansas City losing Friday and Saturday against San Francisco.

A look into the Guardians' lockers in the visitor's clubhouse at Busch Stadium on Friday revealed a pair of yellow goggles in almost every locker. Those were the same goggles they wore during Thursday's clinching celebration.

Do they know something we don't?