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The Guardians wrap up a disappointing season against the team they probably played the worst against; the Detroit Tigers. The Guardians have lost all three series they've played against this team and are 3-7 on the season. This is their last chance to salvage a little self-respect and send Tito into retirement on a winning note.
To add insult to injury, the Tigers are now in 2nd place, one game ahead of the Guardians. By winning two of three this weekend the Guardians could tie the Tigers for 2nd, but at this point I doubt if anybody cares whether we finish 2nd or 3rd.
The Tigers' pitching staff has dominated the Guardians' hitters. The G's have managed to score just 20 runs in 10 games, hitting .192/.532. The Tigers have an ERA of 4.32 in all games this year, which is average, but it's about 2.00 against the Guardians.
The Guardians' staff hasn't been that bad against the Tigers, who have scored just 31 runs in 10 games. But the Tigers have excelled in the close games, winning by scores of 1-0, 4-2, 4-3, 4-3, and 4-1. On the season the Guardians have been outscored by 26 runs while the Tigers have been outscored by 88, yet the Tigers have one more win. They're just better at winning the close ones.
Jose is hitting .132 against the Tigers, Kwan is at .194, and Straw is 2-for-27. A major reason for the Guardians pathetic offensive performance against the Tigers this year is that left-handed pitchers have started 7 of the 10 games and have a combined record of 5-0 against Cleveland. Lefties Tyler Holton and Jason Shreve have combined to pitch 6 scoreless innings out of the pen, allowing just two hits. By my calculation Tigers lefties have pitched 49.1 innings against the Guardians this year and allowed 7 earned runs for an ERA of 1.27.
We suck against all lefties but even more so against Tigers' lefties.
The beatings will continue this weekend as the Tigers will be starting lefties on Friday and Sunday; Saturday appears to be a bullpen game. Eduardo Rodriguez (12-9, 3.40) starts Sunday. Rodriguez has started three games against the Guardians this year, pitching 21.2 innings and allowing 12 hits and 1 earned run for an ERA of 0.42. IOW, the Guardians may as well just take every pitch and hope he walks four batters in an inning. It couldn't be any worse than swinging at his pitches.
Rodriquez's ERA in his non-Guardians starts this year is 3.91. He's a solid starter but nothing spectacular until he faces the Guardians, at which point he morphs into Sandy Koufax in his prime.
Cal Quantrill takes the hill for the Guardians in Friday's opener. Cal has a 1.95 ERA in five starts since returning from injury. Back in April he went six innings against the Tigers and shut them out. It's been a disappointing year for Cal (3-7, 5.13), but he has a chance to finish with a very strong September with a good start Friday.
Lefty Joey Wentz goes for Detroit. Wentz is 3-12 with a 6.45 ERA. Looks like a big advantage for the Guardians, except that Wentz has started two games against the Guardians, allowing 2 runs in 10.2 innings for a 1.69 ERA. Guardian batters are hitting .184 against him. His ERA against the rest of baseball is 6.99. The way the rest of baseball has trashed him this year he must love pitching against us.
The Lucas Giolito era ends Sunday in his last chance to make a good impression before hitting free agency. Gio is 8-14 with a 4.77 ERA for three teams this year, but he's been especially bad for the Guardians with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.
Tristan McKenzie makes his second start Saturday. He couldn't find the plate in his first start back from injury, but Bieber improved greatly between his first and second starts so maybe Tristan can finish his incredibly disappointing season with a solid outing.
I'd like to see the Guardians take two games and at least win one series out of four, but it's not looking likely having to face two lefties who have owned us and with a very rusty McKenzie going against their bullpen.
The Tigers with three lefty starters in Rodriguez, Wentz, and Skubal are set up to beat Cleveland. The Tigers have all of them under team control for at least three more years so unless we find some hitters who can hit average left-handed pitching we're going to continue to be dominated by this team.
For those of you who take the time to read these previews I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed putting them together. I wish I could do a couple of playoff previews but it won't happen this year. Maybe next year if the front office makes the right moves and we have better injury luck with our starters and a bounce back year from a few relievers.
To add insult to injury, the Tigers are now in 2nd place, one game ahead of the Guardians. By winning two of three this weekend the Guardians could tie the Tigers for 2nd, but at this point I doubt if anybody cares whether we finish 2nd or 3rd.
The Tigers' pitching staff has dominated the Guardians' hitters. The G's have managed to score just 20 runs in 10 games, hitting .192/.532. The Tigers have an ERA of 4.32 in all games this year, which is average, but it's about 2.00 against the Guardians.
The Guardians' staff hasn't been that bad against the Tigers, who have scored just 31 runs in 10 games. But the Tigers have excelled in the close games, winning by scores of 1-0, 4-2, 4-3, 4-3, and 4-1. On the season the Guardians have been outscored by 26 runs while the Tigers have been outscored by 88, yet the Tigers have one more win. They're just better at winning the close ones.
Jose is hitting .132 against the Tigers, Kwan is at .194, and Straw is 2-for-27. A major reason for the Guardians pathetic offensive performance against the Tigers this year is that left-handed pitchers have started 7 of the 10 games and have a combined record of 5-0 against Cleveland. Lefties Tyler Holton and Jason Shreve have combined to pitch 6 scoreless innings out of the pen, allowing just two hits. By my calculation Tigers lefties have pitched 49.1 innings against the Guardians this year and allowed 7 earned runs for an ERA of 1.27.
We suck against all lefties but even more so against Tigers' lefties.
The beatings will continue this weekend as the Tigers will be starting lefties on Friday and Sunday; Saturday appears to be a bullpen game. Eduardo Rodriguez (12-9, 3.40) starts Sunday. Rodriguez has started three games against the Guardians this year, pitching 21.2 innings and allowing 12 hits and 1 earned run for an ERA of 0.42. IOW, the Guardians may as well just take every pitch and hope he walks four batters in an inning. It couldn't be any worse than swinging at his pitches.
Rodriquez's ERA in his non-Guardians starts this year is 3.91. He's a solid starter but nothing spectacular until he faces the Guardians, at which point he morphs into Sandy Koufax in his prime.
Cal Quantrill takes the hill for the Guardians in Friday's opener. Cal has a 1.95 ERA in five starts since returning from injury. Back in April he went six innings against the Tigers and shut them out. It's been a disappointing year for Cal (3-7, 5.13), but he has a chance to finish with a very strong September with a good start Friday.
Lefty Joey Wentz goes for Detroit. Wentz is 3-12 with a 6.45 ERA. Looks like a big advantage for the Guardians, except that Wentz has started two games against the Guardians, allowing 2 runs in 10.2 innings for a 1.69 ERA. Guardian batters are hitting .184 against him. His ERA against the rest of baseball is 6.99. The way the rest of baseball has trashed him this year he must love pitching against us.
The Lucas Giolito era ends Sunday in his last chance to make a good impression before hitting free agency. Gio is 8-14 with a 4.77 ERA for three teams this year, but he's been especially bad for the Guardians with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.
Tristan McKenzie makes his second start Saturday. He couldn't find the plate in his first start back from injury, but Bieber improved greatly between his first and second starts so maybe Tristan can finish his incredibly disappointing season with a solid outing.
I'd like to see the Guardians take two games and at least win one series out of four, but it's not looking likely having to face two lefties who have owned us and with a very rusty McKenzie going against their bullpen.
The Tigers with three lefty starters in Rodriguez, Wentz, and Skubal are set up to beat Cleveland. The Tigers have all of them under team control for at least three more years so unless we find some hitters who can hit average left-handed pitching we're going to continue to be dominated by this team.
For those of you who take the time to read these previews I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed putting them together. I wish I could do a couple of playoff previews but it won't happen this year. Maybe next year if the front office makes the right moves and we have better injury luck with our starters and a bounce back year from a few relievers.
