Sunday’s game against the Angels will be number 40, the quarter-pole of the MLB season. Last year at this point, the Guards after game 40 were 18-22. Cleveland currently is 18-21.
Rock the cradle, Josh Naylor is having a great series so far with 3 hits, 4 RBIs, and 2 impactful home runs in back-to-back games in the 8th inning to give the Guards the lead in both.
Tanner Bibee is looking to bounce back after his first rough outing last time out against the Tigers only going 3 2/3 IP.
Tanner Bibee is set to take the mound for Cleveland, as the right-hander makes his fourth start of the season. With a 1-1 record and a 4.30 ERA, Bibee has impressed in two of his three outings so far. In his last start against the New York Yankees on May 2, he pitched 5.1 innings, giving up just four hits and two earned runs while striking out five batters in a no-decision. Bibee also earned a win in his April 26 start against Colorado, pitching 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts, six hits, and one earned run allowed.
Meanwhile, left fielder Steven Kwan has been in great form lately, particularly in Saturday’s comeback win, where he went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. He currently boasts 13 multi-hit games, including three games with three hits, and is batting .273 with one home run, 12 RBI, and 22 runs scored this season. In his five career games against the Angels, Kwan has accumulated six hits, one double, and one RBI.
Taking the mound for the Los Angeles Angels is left-hander Patrick Sandoval (3-1, 3.41 ERA) in his eighth start of the season. Although he’s won his last two decisions, his most recent outing against Houston resulted in a no-decision. Sandoval allowed four earned runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts and no walks over 6.1 innings. In his four career starts against Cleveland, Sandoval is 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA, striking out 18 while allowing 20 hits and seven earned runs, including three homers.
Meanwhile, the Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani continues to impress offensively, batting .288 with eight doubles, one triple, eight homers, and 25 RBIs, accompanied by 22 runs scored in 38 games played this season. Ohtani drove in a run and hit a double in Saturday’s loss against the Guardians, raising his total of multi-hit games to 12. In 24 games against Cleveland, he has a .295 batting average, seven homers, four doubles, and 15 RBIs.
In their last eight games, Los Angeles has a record of 5-2 on the road but a record of 2-6 overall. The over has hit in four of their last five road games. Cleveland has won 15 of their last 20 game threes in a series and 14 of their last 19 games against the AL West. The under has hit in 20 of Cleveland’s last 28 games. In their last six head-to-head meetings, the over has hit in four of them.
With each team having won one game in the series, both will be looking to take the series in this matchup. Cleveland’s offense has struggled to consistently score runs, but their pitching staff has been solid. Tanner Bibee, who has given up seven earned runs over three starts, will be starting for Cleveland. Los Angeles will have Patrick Sandoval on the mound, who has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his last five starts.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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