Xzavion Curry is toeing the mound on Sunday for the Guards and looking to turn it around as Curry has only gone two innings in each of his last two starts.
Bo Naylor is so far enjoying the month of September. Bo is three for seven in the series with the Rays with an RBI and two doubles.
On Saturday, Guardians fans were able to see the long-awaited debuts of relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez. Moore went one 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and Lopez went an inning as well with both not giving up any runs.
Playing in the AL Central offers a significant advantage – even after 135 games, a losing record hasn’t ruled them out of the division race. However, the Guardians’ postseason hopes hinge on their offense having a standout month. Unfortunately, in August, Cleveland ranked 27th in runs per game, averaging less than four runs per outing. Their season-long performance is also lackluster, ranking 26th in runs per game. Despite an impressive strikeout rate (2nd) and base-stealing prowess, their offense lacks power. They currently have the fewest home runs in MLB, resulting in a 27th-ranked slugging percentage. Additionally, their low walk rate places them 24th in OBP. It’s worth noting that Josh Naylor, the team’s slugging percentage leader, is still sidelined. The outlook for Cleveland’s offense appears bleak.
On the bright side, the Guardians have stayed competitive thanks to their outstanding pitching. Only two bullpens boast a lower ERA than Cleveland’s this season. Despite injuries and trades that could have weakened the rotation, young pitchers have stepped up. Xzavion Curry will take the mound on Sunday, seeking redemption against the Rays. His previous outing against them on August 11th resulted in five runs allowed over 5.0 innings. While he maintains a 3.00 home ERA, August was a challenging month for him. Across 21.2 innings in August, Curry surrendered 17 runs and 28 hits. Let’s hope September brings improved performances for him and the team.
As the Rays face a 1.5-game deficit in the AL East and strive for the top spot in the American League, the final month of the season promises to answer these crucial questions, especially considering their impressive August performance with an average of 6.08 runs per game, leading to a stellar 17-8 record. Despite injuries, the Rays continue to demonstrate their offensive prowess, ranking sixth in batting average, fourth in OBP, fourth in slugging percentage, second in stolen bases, and fourth in homers. Even in the absence of Wander Franco, this remains an elite team.
Notably, Tampa’s pitching staff has admirably coped with numerous absences throughout the season, currently ranking fourth in team ERA. With an undecided starter for their upcoming game, manager Kevin Cash may resort to one of his trusted bullpen games. However, the Rays’ bullpen hasn’t maintained its usual elite status, currently sitting at 15th in ERA, 16th in FIP, and 18th in WAR. While they possess a top-10 walk rate, their bottom-10 strikeout rate may present challenges in the upcoming contest, making for a potentially demanding day on Sunday.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Rays’ pitching strategy for this game, they hold a distinct advantage. Regardless of who Tampa Bay sends to the mound, they will face a Cleveland offense lacking power threats. The Guardians have struggled to score against all opponents, making it unlikely for them to put up a high score in this match.
On the other hand, Cleveland has placed its trust in Xzavion Curry to start against the Rays once more, at least at the beginning of the game. However, given his previous performance where he allowed five runs, this decision doesn’t inspire confidence. Curry’s last outing was his worst of the year, surrendering six runs in just 2.0 innings. Tampa Bay’s offense, which has been performing exceptionally well recently, is likely to capitalize on this version of Curry. Expect the Rays to dominate and close out the series decisively.
Our Pick: Take Rays and the RL -1.5
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