Ben Lively, a key player for the Cleveland Guardians, was surprisingly omitted from the roster for the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. Despite a strong season with a record of 13-10 and a 3.81 ERA, Lively's absence highlights the tough decisions faced by manager Stephen Vogt.

The Guardians, who dealt with significant injuries to their pitching staff, opted for a roster emphasizing depth and versatility, leading to the exclusion of notable contributors like Nick Sandlin and Pedro Avila.