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The Guardians stagger home after getting swept by the Mets and going 1-5 on the road trip. First up is a rematch against the White Sox, who won 2 of 3 from them in Chicago last week by a combined score of 16-8.
The Sox are 19-29 overall but have won 7 of 9. They are 7-16 on the road but they are hot right now so it’s hard to say who has the advantage.
The Sox are coming off a three-game home sweep of Kansas City by a cumulative score of 12-3. Pitching was the Sox’s biggest problem in getting out to an abysmal 7-21 start, but that problem seems to be resolving itself. The Sox have allowed 16 runs in their last eight games, although six of those games were against two of the worst hitting teams in the majors; KC and Cleveland.
In the preview to last week’s series I mentioned how bad the team ERA was, but it’s improved a lot since then - from 5.50 to 4.99. Facing the Royals and Guardians will make any sick pitching staff well.
Mike Clevinger was due to start tonight but he is on the 15-day IL so no starter has been designated. Looks like either a bullpen game or they bring up a prospect. The Guardians will throw Hunter Gaddis to the wolves. He has an ERA of 6.86 in 19.2 innings. As a starter opponents are hitting .301/.786 off him. So both teams will be improvising.
In the last two games Allen and Quantrill will face Dylan Cease (2-3, 4.78) and Michael Kopech (2-4, 4.83). Allen and Cease matched up last week with the Guardians winning 3-1. Kopech has a 2.55 ERA in May after posting a 7.01 in April. He and Lance Lynn seem to be figuring it out.
The Sox are 22nd in runs per game at 4.2. They’re 28th in on-base percentage, so only two teams are easier to get out. But they’re 19th in home runs per game and 18th in slugging percentage which pushes their scoring average up. They’re a free swinging bunch; only the Marlins draw fewer walks. They’re 27th in stolen base attempts. They don’t get on base or run much. They depend on home runs and extra base hits.
The Sox hit lefties better than righties and they hit better at home than on the road. This series they get two right-handers on the road so that should help. Allen beat them last week (5.2 innings, 1 ER), so it will be interesting to see how he does against a team that has seen him recently and will have a better idea what he throws. This will be an important test for Allen.
The Sox hit .330 against Cleveland last week, pounding out 36 hits in three games. Jake Burger went 6-for-12 with two homers and Yasmani Grandal was 6-for-11. Andrew Benintendi, who owns the Guardians, went 5-for-12 and Yoan Monacada 4-for-9. Eloy Jimenez is still out.
In last week's series the Sox walked only three times in 112 plate appearances. I would advise the Guardian pitchers to throw more pitches off the edges - these guys will chase. And be careful with Gavin Sheets; he was 2-for-10 but both hits were home runs.
The Sox are 27th in ERA although, as noted, they have been very good recently agianst weak offenses. They are 25th in WHIP, 26th in walks per 9 innings, but they’re 5th in K’s per 9. They have swing-and-miss stuff but command is the problem. They’re 29th in home runs allowed, possibly due to falling behind in the count and having to groove something.
The Guardians need to start hitting, and now. They’re in 3rd place, 4.5 games behind the Twins. If the Sox sweep the series they will leave town in 3rd place with the Guardians in 4th. The Sox are hot while the Guardians are floundering. These teams are moving in opposite directions. The Guardians’ bullpen is in flames while their offense is sputtering. It’s not time to panic yet but they could really use a couple of wins right now.
The Sox are 19-29 overall but have won 7 of 9. They are 7-16 on the road but they are hot right now so it’s hard to say who has the advantage.
The Sox are coming off a three-game home sweep of Kansas City by a cumulative score of 12-3. Pitching was the Sox’s biggest problem in getting out to an abysmal 7-21 start, but that problem seems to be resolving itself. The Sox have allowed 16 runs in their last eight games, although six of those games were against two of the worst hitting teams in the majors; KC and Cleveland.
In the preview to last week’s series I mentioned how bad the team ERA was, but it’s improved a lot since then - from 5.50 to 4.99. Facing the Royals and Guardians will make any sick pitching staff well.
Mike Clevinger was due to start tonight but he is on the 15-day IL so no starter has been designated. Looks like either a bullpen game or they bring up a prospect. The Guardians will throw Hunter Gaddis to the wolves. He has an ERA of 6.86 in 19.2 innings. As a starter opponents are hitting .301/.786 off him. So both teams will be improvising.
In the last two games Allen and Quantrill will face Dylan Cease (2-3, 4.78) and Michael Kopech (2-4, 4.83). Allen and Cease matched up last week with the Guardians winning 3-1. Kopech has a 2.55 ERA in May after posting a 7.01 in April. He and Lance Lynn seem to be figuring it out.
The Sox are 22nd in runs per game at 4.2. They’re 28th in on-base percentage, so only two teams are easier to get out. But they’re 19th in home runs per game and 18th in slugging percentage which pushes their scoring average up. They’re a free swinging bunch; only the Marlins draw fewer walks. They’re 27th in stolen base attempts. They don’t get on base or run much. They depend on home runs and extra base hits.
The Sox hit lefties better than righties and they hit better at home than on the road. This series they get two right-handers on the road so that should help. Allen beat them last week (5.2 innings, 1 ER), so it will be interesting to see how he does against a team that has seen him recently and will have a better idea what he throws. This will be an important test for Allen.
The Sox hit .330 against Cleveland last week, pounding out 36 hits in three games. Jake Burger went 6-for-12 with two homers and Yasmani Grandal was 6-for-11. Andrew Benintendi, who owns the Guardians, went 5-for-12 and Yoan Monacada 4-for-9. Eloy Jimenez is still out.
In last week's series the Sox walked only three times in 112 plate appearances. I would advise the Guardian pitchers to throw more pitches off the edges - these guys will chase. And be careful with Gavin Sheets; he was 2-for-10 but both hits were home runs.
The Sox are 27th in ERA although, as noted, they have been very good recently agianst weak offenses. They are 25th in WHIP, 26th in walks per 9 innings, but they’re 5th in K’s per 9. They have swing-and-miss stuff but command is the problem. They’re 29th in home runs allowed, possibly due to falling behind in the count and having to groove something.
The Guardians need to start hitting, and now. They’re in 3rd place, 4.5 games behind the Twins. If the Sox sweep the series they will leave town in 3rd place with the Guardians in 4th. The Sox are hot while the Guardians are floundering. These teams are moving in opposite directions. The Guardians’ bullpen is in flames while their offense is sputtering. It’s not time to panic yet but they could really use a couple of wins right now.
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