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Espino's incredible journey to Majors has him as must-win Game 3 starter

The Cleveland Guardians have named 25‑year‑old right‑hander Daniel Espino as the starter for Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, a must‑win as the club trails the series 2‑0. Espino, who overcame two right‑shoulder surgeries that sidelined him for most of four seasons, will open the game on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

ET on TBS and its affiliates. He made his major‑league debut on June 17 and pitched a scoreless two‑thirds of an inning in his postseason debut in Game 1 of this series.

Espino, once ranked the No. 4 right‑handed prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2023 and known for a fastball that has reached triple‑digit miles per hour, earned his spot after limited minor‑league work and a comeback last year.

Manager Stephen Vogt praised his resilience, noting nothing can rattle Espino after his arduous recovery, and expressed excitement for his role as the opener in the elimination game.

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