Game 3 preview:
The Guardians try to break out the broom in a matinee starting at 1:35 as Slade Cecconi takes the hill against LHP Carlos Rodon (1-2, 3.32 ERA). The Guardians seem to like hitting in the Big Apple as they have scored 14 runs in the first two games, which were started by Schlittler (1.50 ERA) and Cole (0.00). Not bad, especially since they couldn't score 5 runs in any of their previous 12 games.
Rodon, 33, has a career mark of 94-74 with a 3.73 ERA. He had elbow surgery in October and has only started four games. In his last two starts he was up to 93-95 pitches and allowed 2 runs in 11 innings. He's no easier to hit than before. He has walked 13 batters in 19 innings so he may be nibbling. He's still throwing 45% fastballs at 94 mph, right on his career averages.
Rodon is a lefty but right-handed batters are only 5-for-46 off him (.109) while lefties are 7-for-19 (.368) in small samples. Whatever he throws to right-handed hitters it's working beautifully. Jose has seen him a ton; in 53 career at-bats he's hitting .245/.713 off him. Fry is 3-for-9, Hoskins 3-for-11 with a double and a home run, and Angel is 2-for-6. Our right-handed bats have had some success.
Slade Cecconi is 3-5 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .294/.802 off him. His stuff just isn't good. But in his last five starts his ERA is a respectable 3.46 as he's been improving his pitch mix. However, the opponents were mostly weak hitting teams like KC, Detroit, Boston, Philly, and LAA, all of whom rank in the bottom half of the majors in runs per game.
The third time batters face him they're hitting like Ted Williams at his peak with a slash line of .404/1.287. Vogt should absolutely not let him face Rice, Goldschmidt, and Bellinger a third time, if he even makes it that far without getting chased.
We're playing with house money now because we already won the series. The Guardians are swinging the bats well and they are 15-5 against lefty starters this year so maybe they get 4-5 runs off Rodon like they did against Schlittler and Cole.
If Cecconi only makes it through 3 or 4 innings the Guardians are in trouble because Gaddis, Holderman, and Herrin have all pitched two days in a row, throwing 37, 34, and 25 pitches, respectively. Maybe Herrin could go a third day after just 25 pitches.
Festa and Armstrong were off Wednesday so Festa may go long relief if necessary. I believe we also have Heuer and Dion, but I doubt that Vogt wants to throw minor leaguers to the dogs unless the game is effectively over.
This could easily be a blowout with Festa, Heuer, and Dion taking one for the team after Cecconi gets run early. I'll be shocked if he's out there to start the 5th.
