In the bottom of the 2nd, Will Brennan hit a single to left field and sadly hit a bird in the infield, killing it. Brennan issued an apology after the game on Twitter: “I truly am sorry @peta and bird enthusiasts. An unfortunate sacrifice.”
Logan Allen is on the bump today for the Guards. Allen has done a nice job with an ERA of 3.04 and has not given up more than three runs in his starts. Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie are on rehab assignments and are getting closer to returning to the club. It will be interesting what Cleveland decides to do with Allen as I believe he’s earned the right to stay up, even in a temporary role as a reliever.
Last night, Gabriel Arias did not get a hit but did walk twice scoring two runs for the Guardians. Arias is clearly making an impression, I wonder if Manager Terry Francona might try him in right field as the infield is a log jam. Or if Andres Gimenez continues to struggle, maybe a brief stint at second base is possible.
Cleveland Guardians catcher Mike Zunino can finally breathe a sigh of relief after breaking his long slump with a crucial home run. Following a 3-0 victory on Monday, Zunino and the Guardians are set to face the Chicago White Sox in the second game of their three-game series. In the seventh inning, with Cleveland holding a 1-0 lead, Zunino sealed the win with a two-run homer.
This blast marked Zunino’s third home run of the season, ending a drought that had lasted since April 28. In 2021, the 32-year-old achieved a career-high of 33 homers while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Prior to Monday’s game, Zunino had been struggling, going 1-for-29 at the plate and striking out 21 times in that span. His 341-foot shot to right field helped the Guardians break a three-game losing streak.
Guardians manager Terry Francona expressed his happiness for Zunino, acknowledging his relentless work ethic despite not reaping significant rewards. Francona commented, “It made me feel good when I saw the way that dugout reacted.”
On the pitching side, the White Sox have struggled, posting a team ERA of 4.99, which ranks 26th in MLB. Their staff has recorded 450 strikeouts but has also given up 69 home runs and 257 runs, placing them 29th in the league. They have issued 181 walks, resulting in a FIP of 4.76. Opposing teams have tallied 417 base hits against them, averaging 8.9 hits per 9 innings, leading to 235 earned runs. The pitching staff has a K/BB ratio of 2.49 and a WHIP of 1.41.
In terms of the bullpen, the White Sox have utilized 164 relief pitchers throughout the season. They have inherited 73 runners and allowed 49.3% of them to score. The bullpen has recorded 9 saves but has blown 8 out of 17 save opportunities. Their save percentage stands at 52.9%, and they have entered the game in 44 save situations. Additionally, the relievers have accumulated 27 holds, ranking 8th in baseball. They have made 47 appearances with runners on base and have pitched in 60 high-leverage situations.
The Chicago White Sox entered Monday night’s game against Cleveland in excellent form, securing six victories in their last ten outings. They have had a solid batting average of .252 when facing left-handed pitchers this season, and their team OBP against lefties surpasses .700. Logan Allen has encountered some challenges recently, allowing 15 hits in his previous 10 innings on the mound. Cease boasts an impressive 12.0 strikeouts per 9 innings rate when playing away games this season. The Cleveland lineup ranks 29th in runs scored across all of Major League Baseball. The Guardians, unfortunately, have struggled as of late, managing only three victories in their last ten games. Furthermore, they suffered defeats in two out of three matchups against the White Sox during their previous series in Chicago last week. Guardians did win the game on Monday to open the series in a way in which we are sure no better had a bet placed with their favorite sportsbook app on Mike Zunino hitting a home run.
Our Pick: Take the Guardians to win 4-2 in a low-scoring game.
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