The Guardians have not swept an opponent this season, but have an opportunity today with Logan Allen on the bump. The Guards have won three in a row and four out of six heading into today’s game.
Josh Naylor has been on such a tear since the Baltimore series in late May climbing his batting average 69 points from .226 to .295 in that span. Naylor is also currently in the top 5 in RBIs as he is tied for 4th with 55 RBIs.
Emmanuel Clase has also been on a roll as Clase has only given up one run in his last twelve appearances dropping his ERA to 2.55. Clase is also currently tied for most saves in MLB with 22.
Cleveland finds itself with a subpar record, sitting three games below a .500 winning percentage. However, they are in close pursuit of the division-leading Minnesota in the AL Central standings, as only one game separates the two teams. Can the Guardians reclaim the Central Division title?
The offensive performance of Cleveland has been lackluster, scoring an average of 3.89 runs per game, ranking them 27th in the league. Their batting average stands at .245, placing them 17th, while their overall offensive production, measured by OPS, sits at .679, placing them 27th as well. In terms of power hitting, they have hit the fewest home runs in the league with 46 (30th), but their stolen base count of 55 ranks them 11th. On the pitching side, the team has performed decently, with a 3.85 ERA, ranking them 9th in the league, and a 1.29 WHIP, placing them 16th. The pitching staff has also recorded 29 quality starts.
Taking the mound for the Guardians on Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field is Allen. The young left-handed pitcher has struggled in his recent two outings, allowing a combined total of ten runs in nine innings against Houston and San Diego. However, he has shown consistency throughout the season, limiting seven of his opponents to three runs or fewer.
After their impressive seven-game winning streak, Oakland’s triumph was short-lived, as they have now suffered six consecutive losses. With their recent performance, one might wonder if the Athletics’ winning ways have come to an end in 2023.
The team’s offensive statistics paint a grim picture. They currently rank last in the league, averaging only 3.52 runs per game and batting a meager .222 with a .655 OPS. Their power numbers are also lackluster, with just 69 home runs (23rd) and a stolen base count of 75 (3rd).
On the pitching side, Oakland’s staff has struggled immensely, sporting a league-worst 6.00 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. They have managed only 15 quality starts throughout the season, further highlighting their struggles on the mound.
In the upcoming series finale, the left-handed pitcher Sears is set to start for the visiting team. While he has had some rough outings recently, surrendering six combined runs in five of his last six games, he did manage an impressive performance in his latest appearance against Atlanta, allowing only one run over six innings. Apart from a shaky start against the New York Yankees, where he gave up five earned runs from three home runs, Sears has been dominant since the beginning of May.
Cleveland has a poor record on the run line as a home favorite, with a record of 7-18, which is one of the worst in Major League Baseball (MLB). Furthermore, their run line record as favorites, 12-28, ranks among the bottom five in the league.
Our Pick: Take Oakland and the run line
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