Noah Syndergaard is on the mound for the Guardians on Sunday. Syndergaard pitched well in his last outing throwing a quality start for Cleveland going six innings while giving up three runs.
With a win on Sunday, the Guardians can win the season series with the Blue Jays.
Cleveland has been enjoying their time in Canada with five home runs so far in the two games and from five different Guardians hitters.
Cleveland’s chances of making a meaningful push for the postseason seem to have dwindled significantly within their division race. While not entirely out of contention, a substantial change in fortunes will be necessary for them to surpass Minnesota in the AL Central rankings.
The Guardians are averaging 4.01 runs per game, placing them 28th in this statistic, and their batting performance stands at .249 (17th), accompanied by a .690 OPS (27th). Their home run count of 96 places them at the 30th position, but their base-stealing prowess ranks a respectable 7th with 106 stolen bases during the 2023 season. On the pitching front, Cleveland’s staff has maintained a solid 3.78 ERA (3rd) along with a 1.28 WHIP (16th), complemented by 48 quality starts, positioning them 13th in this category.
Taking the mound for the visiting team at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon will be Syndergaard, fondly known as “Thor.” In his most recent outing against his former team, he delivered an impressive performance, limiting the Dodgers to three runs and four hits across six innings of play. However, his performance has showcased inconsistency since his trade to Cleveland from LA. Notably, he conceded ten runs against the White Sox and Reds, along with four runs each against the Blue Jays and Dodgers.
Toronto finds itself on the outside observing the American League Wild Card landscape. However, there remains ample opportunity for this situation to evolve. Can the Canadian team maintain a consistent performance level to secure a spot in the postseason?
The Blue Jays maintain an average of 4.43 runs per game (ranked 17th), boasting a batting average of .257 (ranked 8th), and a .741 OPS (ranked 14th). Their home run count stands at 150 (ranked 18th), accompanied by 82 stolen bases (ranked 19th) in the year 2023.
In terms of pitching, the Toronto staff boasts an impressive 3.69 ERA (ranked 1st), complemented by a 1.24 WHIP (ranked 6th), and an impressive count of 58 quality starts (ranked 5th).
Taking the mound for the Jays in Sunday’s series finale is Kikuchi. His recent performance against Cleveland on August 8 showcased his commendable skills, allowing only one run and three hits over seven innings, despite being charged with the loss. Throughout August, the seasoned left-hander has conceded merely six runs across four outings, limiting six of his last seven opponents to either one or no runs.
The Blue Jays need victories, and after dropping Friday’s series opener, winning on Saturday. Kikuchi has been as dependable as it comes on the mound, and I don’t see that changing today at home. This season, he’s 5-1 in day game starts and boasts a 3.24 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in his 11 home starts. Syndergaard isn’t the pitcher he once was, and that shows every couple of outings, but especially on the road. He’s 0-3 with a 9.37 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in eight road starts this year.
Toronto hits .270 BA/.348 OBP/.430 SLG/.778 OPS in its day games, averaging 5.2 runs per game. Cleveland hits just .229/.292/.351/.644 vs. left-handed pitchers and isn’t enjoying its at-bats in August (.226/.285/.344/.629 at the plate this month).
I’m betting on a quality start from Kikuchi and plenty of scoring from the Jays lineup to cover the run line.
Our Pick: Take Blue Jays and the Run Line
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