On the bump today for the Guardians is Logan Allen who will be looking to bounce back after losing to the Royals on Monday. Allen will also look for his first win against the Chicago White Sox as he is 0-1 in two starts—no announced starter for the White Sox.
Josh Naylor loves playing at Guaranteed Rate Field as he is currently 5 for 8 in the series with 3 RBIs. On the opposite end, Josh Bell is 0 for 8 and Jose Ramirez is currently 1 for 9 in the series and 1-17 against the White Sox overall this year..
The Royals helped out the Guardians last night with a walk-off grand slam victory keeping the Twins only a game and a half up on the Guardians in the standings.
On Saturday, Logan Allen will take the mound for the Guardians. In his last outing against the Royals, he stumbled, conceding five runs (four earned) in seven innings, and was handed the loss. However, before that game, he had an impressive streak of three consecutive outings without allowing any runs. So far this season, he holds a 4-3 record with a 3.39 ERA, and a 1.33 WHIP, and has pitched 74.1 innings.
When facing the White Sox, Allen has been effective, limiting them to only four runs in 11.1 innings throughout his career.
Cleveland has been in close contention for the top spot in the AL Central throughout the season, having won the division last year. As of Friday night, they are only 1.5 games behind the leader. The team is eagerly anticipating the return of Bieber, a valuable player, later in the season.
Recently, the Guardians have had a successful run, winning three consecutive series, notably against the Phillies and the Royals.
On the offensive side, Jose Ramirez’s performance at the plate has been mediocre lately, managing only five RBIs and a .744 OPS this month. Nevertheless, he has a total of 16 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a solid .853 OPS for the entire season. However, Ramirez has struggled against the White Sox, recording only one hit in 17 at-bats and no RBIs this season.
Cleveland’s overall scoring average stands at 4.21 runs per game, ranking them 24th in the league. On the other hand, their pitching has been more solid, boasting a team ERA of 3.81, which places them seventh in the league.
After a stint on the IL, Mike Clevinger is set to make his return to the field. He last pitched on June 14th and put on an impressive performance, pitching 4.2 shutout innings against the Dodgers. Throughout the season, the veteran right-hander has been reliable, maintaining a 3.88 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP with a 3-4 record in 62.2 innings pitched. Notably, in his only meeting with the Guardians this season, Clevinger limited them to just two runs in six innings, and in his career, he has conceded seven runs in 16.2 innings against the rival team.
On the other hand, Chicago has been struggling to maintain momentum. Although they managed to surprise everyone with a series win against the Braves, they have since dropped three consecutive series, including a loss against the Cubs this week. Their performance at home has been disappointing, losing each of their last three home series, and they have a poor record of 2-8 in their last ten games. The organization has already made some trades, sending Giolito, Lynn, Kelly, and Graveman for prospects.
Despite the team’s struggles, Luis Robert has been a shining star for the White Sox. The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting .260 with a .726 OPS against the Guardians this season. He has been their most consistent hitter, delivering 28 home runs, 58 RBIs, and an impressive .875 OPS. Throughout the month, Robert has already collected 12 RBIs.
However, the team’s offensive performance has been lackluster, averaging 4.19 runs, placing them 24th in the league. The pitching has also been a cause for concern, reporting a 4.70 team ERA, ranking them 25th overall.
Guardians have had a mixed performance in their recent road games, winning three out of their last eight. On the other hand, the White Sox, while not outstanding overall, have shown great prowess against the Guardians this season, triumphing in five out of eight meetings. Notably, they secured a 3-0 victory on Friday.
Adding to the challenge for the Guardians, their starting pitcher Logan Allen is a rookie. His performance last month was below par with a 4.76 ERA, and he has made only two starts this month. Being a left-handed pitcher, he faces a formidable task as the White Sox have demonstrated a strong ability to perform against lefty starters, boasting a solid .742 OPS compared to a lesser .665 OPS against right-handed starters.
In contrast, the White Sox’s starting pitcher, Mike Clevinger, has proven to be effective against his former team, the Guardians. In their sole encounter this season, he managed to limit them to just two runs over six innings.
Our Pick: Take White Sox and the Money Line
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