2024 Season | Series #10 | Guardians @ Astros | Apri 30 - May 2, 2024

[KilgoreTrout]

You almost have to send Gaddis down as weird as that sounds

He’s blown 3 games and we managed to recover and get one of them.

But you can’t send him out there anymore

He certainly seems broken.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

The problem though was if it wasn’t for Gaddis, who do you send out there? Because Cookie cooked the pen, the only two other options were Avila and Beede. Both equally bad options.

Anyone but Gaddis.

 

[33Y0]

Anyone but Gaddis.

JMO - Vogt should have used him much earlier in the night in a lower leverage situation which would have then freed up someone like a Sandlin, Smith, or Barlow for the 10th.

 

[CBBI]

From March 29th to April 25th (less than a week ago), Hunter Gaddis pitched 12.1 innings across 13 games and gave up 6 hits, 0 runs and struck out 16 batters. He pitched in multiple 1-run victories and racked up 6 holds in those 13 games.

This idea that he never should have been used in high leverage is really silly and not at all an accurate representation of how his season had gone. He was GREAT until literally three days ago.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Gaddis' week from hell continues. I feel bad for the guy. But the real problem is Carrasco, who is toast. After six starts his ERA is 6.59. Last year it was 6.80 in 20 starts. What makes anybody think this year would be different? He's 37 years old.

Time to replace him with Curry until Gavin Williams gets back.

Great to see Gimenez finally hit his first home run and Florial had a great at-bat fouling off those high fastballs until he got one in a location he could handle.

Gaddis kind of had to groove one to the pinch hitter because Altuve was up next. I think Hunter's instructions were 1) no pitches in the dirt with the tying run on 3rd, and 2) don't walk this guy.

 

[macbdog]

Our bullpen has been overstressed already. We need some distance out of starters.

Well he got distance, about anl 5 run distance between the Gs and the lead.

 

[33Y0]

From March 29th to April 25th (less than a week ago), Hunter Gaddis pitched 12.1 innings across 13 games and gave up 6 hits, 0 runs and struck out 16 batters. He pitched in multiple 1-run victories and racked up 6 holds in those 13 games.

This idea that he never should have been used in high leverage is really silly and not at all an accurate representation of how his season had gone. He was GREAT until literally three days ago.

1) Extremely small sample size
2) Of those 12.1 innings, how many were in high leverage?

Well, let’s dig into the stats.

Gaddis with no runners on:
.227 BAA, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR, 5 H, 0 ER

Gaddis with runners on:
.265 BAA, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K, 1 HR, 9 H, 5 ER (6 R)

Gaddis with RISP:
.364 BAA, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 8 H, 5 ER (6 R)

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Slept on it. Still salty. MAN, that was a kick in the balls.

 

[CBBI]

1) Extremely small sample size
2) Of those 12.1 innings, how many were in high leverage?

Well, let’s dig into the stats.

Gaddis with no runners on:
.227 BAA, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR, 5 H, 0 ER

Gaddis with runners on:
.265 BAA, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K, 1 HR, 9 H, 5 ER (6 R)

Gaddis with RISP:
.364 BAA, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 8 H, 5 ER (6 R)

I’m not really sure why you’re including the last three games when my point was the first 13 games he was not scored upon and pitched in high leverage situations which earned him the opportunity to pitch in more high leverage situations.

Of course his numbers look bad now because he’s had three bad games in a row.

 

[sportscoach]

1) Extremely small sample size
2) Of those 12.1 innings, how many were in high leverage?

Well, let’s dig into the stats.

Gaddis with no runners on:
.227 BAA, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR, 5 H, 0 ER

Gaddis with runners on:
.265 BAA, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K, 1 HR, 9 H, 5 ER (6 R)

Gaddis with RISP:
.364 BAA, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 8 H, 5 ER (6 R)

He did deserve the chance to get in the high leverage role and it hasn't worked out so far...

That being stated, he's still barely graduated being a rookie pitcher... Getting past a rough patch like this, is what makes or breaks a pitcher in MLB...

 

[33Y0]

I’m not really sure why you’re including the last three games when my point was the first 13 games he was not scored upon and pitched in high leverage situations which earned him the opportunity to pitch in more high leverage situations.

Of course his numbers look bad now because he’s had three bad games in a row.

Oh really? Okay, let's compare Statcast data before and after:

Pre-Braves:
LA: 18.4
Hard Hit%: 32.0%
Clutch: 0.16 (average)
Average Leverage Index: 1.59 (average)

Post-Braves:
LA: 16.1
Hard Hit%: 43.6%
Clutch: -0.29 (below average)
Average Leverage Index: 2.00 (High) (This means pre-Braves series, he WASN'T being used in extremely high leverage situations until the Braves series)

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Gaddis struck out the first guy and got the second guy on a weak ground out. He made one bad pitch. It wasn't like he came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th, walked three batters and then wild pitched the winning run.

If Carrasco doesn't allow eight runs Gaddis wouldn't have even been in the game. How many more starts are they going to give Cookie? In his last two starts he's pitched 9 innings allowing 13 earned runs.

Josh Naylor taking a called strike three with the bases loaded and one out after chasing a low curveball on a 3-1 count that would have walked in a run hurt a lot.

 

[sportscoach]

Oh really? Okay, let's compare Statcast data before and after:

Pre-Braves:
LA: 18.4
Hard Hit%: 32.0%
Clutch: 0.16 (average)
Average Leverage Index: 1.59 (average)

Post-Braves:
LA: 16.1
Hard Hit%: 43.6%
Clutch: -0.29 (below average)
Average Leverage Index: 2.00 (High) (This means pre-Braves series, he WASN'T being used in extremely high leverage situations until the Braves series)

Either way, he has struggled in his new role... Let's see IF/how he overcomes this situation since we all know he's gonna get another chance

 

[sportscoach]

Gaddis struck out the first guy and got the second guy on a weak ground out. He made one bad pitch. It wasn't like he came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th, walked three batters and then wild pitched the winning run.

If Carrasco doesn't allow eight runs Gaddis wouldn't have even been in the game. How many more starts are they going to give Cookie? In his last two starts he's pitched 9 innings allowing 13 earned runs.

Josh Naylor taking a called strike three with the bases loaded and one out after chasing a low curveball on a 3-1 count that would have walked in a run hurt a lot.

Problem is Gaddis has 3 blown saves and all after he got out into the setup role...

I think it's way too soon to judge the kid, since I mean, he has what half a season in the majors? Let's see how he recovers...

Plus Josh sometimes starts trying to hard... Hopefully some Zen time with Kwan gets him back on track

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Game 2 preview:

Tristan McKenzie faces Justin Verlander, the 41-year-old wonder.

Verlander was on IR when the season started. He has two starts under his belt. His line is 10.1 innings, 7 hits, 2 ER's, 4 walks, 11 K's. They've giving him five days rest after each start. In his last start against the Cubs he went 4.1 shutout innings, throwing 95 pitches.

The Guardians should follow the Cubs' game plan and try to run up the pitch count and get him out of the game by the end of the 5th if not earlier. The Astros bullpen is not good and their best guy, Josh Hader, went two innings last night.

Jose Ramirez has faced Verlander 43 times with a line of .324/.419/.649/1.067. Ramon Laureano is 2-for-13 against him, but I'm sure he won't start. Nobody else on the Guardians has faced Verlander more than six times.

With an ERA of 1.74 and a WHIP of 1.06, Verlander is just as tough as he ever was. The only difference is he gets more rest between starts now.

McKenzie will be making his sixth start. His line is not impressive at 2-2, 4.91, but the trend is encouraging. In his last two starts his line is 9 innings, 9 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks and 13 K's. They are still limiting his pitch count (75 and 84 pitches). Hopefully as he continues to put innings under his belt the walk rate will continue to decline and he will be able to go deeper into games.

His big problem tonight will be Jose Altuve, who is 5-for-9 against him lifetime with two home runs and two doubles. The rest of the Astros are hitting .159 against him.

I said in the series preview that this could be a high scoring series and it's playing out that way so far. Tonight could be different. Both Verlander and McKenzie have been pitching well (especially Verlander), but for five innings. It could come down to a bullpen battle over the last three innings like last night. Josh Hader threw 33 pitches last night so I assume he will not be available.