Logan Allen is on the bump Wednesday night looking for back-to-back victories. The key to his starts has been the long ball, when he keeps the ball in the yard in his last four starts he wins, and when the ball goes out, it ends in a loss.
In the past eight games for the Guardians, they have only scored 18 runs accounting for just over two runs a game at 2.25.
Two of the top hitters for the Guardians are slumping in August. In the month of August, Steven Kwan is only hitting .111 with three hits in 27 at-bats and Jose Ramirez is hitting .182 with four hits, no home runs.
On Wednesday evening, Logan Allen will receive the opportunity to showcase his skills. After a series of challenging performances, Allen bounced back impressively by holding the White Sox to a mere two runs across six innings last weekend, securing a well-deserved victory. The emerging rookie Southpaw has initiated his major league journey on a positive note, boasting a 3.65 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. His record stands at 5 wins and 4 losses in 86.1 innings pitched, having accumulated a total of 85 strikeouts. Notably, this upcoming game marks his inaugural encounter with the Blue Jays.
Although Cleveland remains competitive in the AL Central, their recent track record in securing wins has been inconsistent. Over the past few weeks, they’ve suffered losses in two out of their last three series. Despite a strong pitching performance, the team has struggled to muster sufficient offensive firepower for victory. This trend was evident in their preceding series against the White Sox, where they lost two out of three games.
Andres Gimenez has emerged as a bright spot this month, showcasing an impressive .943 OPS. Given the departure of Bell through trade and Ramirez’s suspension, the 24-year-old has assumed a more prominent role. He has notched 42 RBIs throughout the season, accompanied by a .691 OPS. In Monday’s defeat, Gimenez went 0 for 2 but managed to draw a walk.
When it comes to scoring runs, the Guardians have averaged 4.05 per game this season, ranking them 26th in the league. Although their pitching has generally been a strong suit, the team’s collective ERA has reached 3.83, placing them in the sixth position.
Kevin Gausman is set to take the starting position on Wednesday. However, in his recent outing, Gausman didn’t perform at his peak, allowing three runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings against his former team, the Orioles. This led to a loss being charged against him. While he hasn’t been in top form for two out of his last three games, his overall statistics remain solid, boasting a 3.20 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, along with an 8-6 record over 132 innings. Notably, Gausman has performed well against Cleveland, maintaining a 3.12 ERA and a 3-4 record across 40.1 innings.
The Blue Jays are approaching the conclusion of a seven-game stretch on the road. They managed to secure victories in all three matches during their recent series in Boston over the weekend, accumulating a total of 25 runs. Additionally, they emerged victorious in the opening game of the ongoing series. Although Toronto’s batting performance can be inconsistent, particularly with runners in scoring position (RISP), their recent play has been impressive, especially in the last five games. They have managed to establish a three-game lead in the wildcard race.
The Blue Jays are relieved to witness George Springer emerging from his period of struggle. The seasoned power hitter endured a prolonged slump but has now made a strong recovery, achieving a batting average of .345, driving in four runs (RBIs), and achieving an OPS of .881 in August. Springer’s season stats include 43 RBIs and an OPS of .712. In the previous season, he maintained an OPS of .857 against the Guardians and managed to secure a hit in four attempts during Monday’s victory.
Toronto’s batting lineup is performing well, averaging 4.55 runs, placing them in 16th position. However, their pitching remains a standout aspect, boasting a team ERA of 3.77, which currently leads the entire major leagues.
The Toronto Blue Jays are riding a wave of momentum, having completed a triumphant three-game sweep at Fenway Park just before this series. Their offense is in scorching form, tallying an impressive 28 runs over their past five games. In contrast, the Cleveland Guardians seem to be grappling with a crisis of confidence. Their performance has been lackluster, stumbling through seven losses in their previous ten games, which included a series defeat against the White Sox.
Adding to this, Kevin Gausman, the starting pitcher for the Blue Jays, boasts a commendable track record with a 3.12 ERA across 40 innings pitched against Cleveland throughout his career. On the other hand, Logan Allen, a rookie starter for the Guardians, has hit a rough patch, relinquishing 11 runs over his last three starts spanning 19 innings. The Guardians are struggling to put up sufficient runs on the scoreboard to secure victories. This struggle will likely be exacerbated, especially if Jose Ramirez begins his suspension, further hindering their offensive capabilities.
Our Pick: Take Blue Jays and the Money Line
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