Logan Allen will try to turn around the Guardians on Friday night. Allen has been a victim of the long ball this season, but when he keeps the ball in the yard he wins.
At a time when the Guardians are needing wins to stay alive, they have lost four out of five. They have been outscored 38 to 15 during the five-game stretch.
It was reported on Thursday that Shane Bieber faced live hitters indicating he is on the road to pitching again before the 2023 season concludes.
In order for the Cleveland Guardians to have a shot at making it to the postseason, they need a significant improvement in their lineup performance during the final three weeks of the regular season. Currently, Cleveland ranks 17th in team batting average, hitting at .248. However, their on-base percentage drops them to the 24th position, standing at .310, and their slugging percentage is even lower, at 27th place with .379. Their total runs scored, which is 568, also ranks them 28th among all teams. Leading the way in home runs for Cleveland is Jose Ramirez, with a total of 21. Surprisingly, Josh Naylor has been the standout in the RBI category with an impressive 80, despite playing only 99 out of 140 games this season.
On the pitching front, Cleveland’s staff has managed to keep the Guardians in contention. They boast the 10th-best team ERA, holding strong at 3.96, and they rank 18th in WHIP with a score of 1.29. Cleveland’s starting rotation has contributed 49 Quality Starts, placing them 13th in the league, and the pitching staff is effectively limiting opponents to an average of .246. Leading in victories and strikeouts is Tanner Bibee, with 10 wins and 129 strikeouts to his name. Taking the mound for Cleveland on Friday is Logan Allen, a right-handed pitcher who currently holds a record of 6-7 with an ERA of 3.77 and a notable 107 strikeouts this season.
The Los Angeles Angels are facing significant challenges as they compete without key stars such as Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Taylor Ward, CJ Cron, and Gio Urshela. These players have all been in the starting lineup to varying degrees throughout the season. While the Angels still have the offensive prowess of Shohei Ohtani, they are unable to utilize his pitching abilities due to an elbow injury. Ohtani has been exceptional at the plate, leading the team in wins and strikeouts.
Ohtani’s impressive statistics include 44 home runs and 95 RBIs, making him the leader in both categories for the team. As the designated hitter, he also boasts an impressive .304 batting average and has accumulated a team-high 151 hits. However, Los Angeles is missing the contributions of other notable players such as Trout, who has 18 home runs and 44 RBIs, Ward with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs, and Hunter Renfroe, who provided 19 home runs and 56 RBIs before being traded at the deadline.
With only 22 games remaining in the regular season and facing a 13-game deficit in the wildcard race, it appears highly unlikely that the Angels will be able to mount a successful comeback.
The Cleveland Indians are embroiled in a high-stakes battle for a playoff berth, currently trailing the top team in the American League Central by a 6.5-game margin. They also find themselves behind by 10 games in the wild card race. With just 22 games remaining in their schedule, their most promising path to the postseason is by clinching the division title. In stark contrast, the Los Angeles team is dealing with injuries and is virtually out of contention for the playoffs, which gives Cleveland a strong incentive to secure a victory against them.
Cleveland has displayed its dominance in recent clashes, emerging victorious in five of the last six encounters with Los Angeles. Furthermore, the Guardians have performed admirably on the road, winning six of their last nine away games. Conversely, Los Angeles is mired in a slump, having suffered defeats in their last six games, including seven consecutive losses against American League opponents.
Adding to Los Angeles’s woes is the underperformance of their starting pitcher, Griffin Canning, who has struggled with a disappointing 4.30 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
Our Pick: Take Angels and the Money Line
If you're a fan of Cleveland sports and want to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, and insights on your favorite teams, signing up for the Cleveland sports newsletter is a no-brainer.
Leave a Reply