Lucas Giolito will be making his third start for Cleveland on Friday night, and so far, the home run ball is hurting Giolito. Giolito has given up six home runs in his two starts.
Jose Ramirez had a great West Coast swing, going 12 for 29 with two home runs and three RBIs. Ramirez raised his batting average from .270 to .278.
Sam Hentges’s streak of not giving up an earned run since July 23rd is still going, and in the streak, he has only given up one run against the Rays on September 2nd.
With only 15 games left in the regular season, Cleveland finds itself trailing by 7 ½ games in the American League Central race for the top spot. Additionally, in the battle for one of the three Wild Card positions, Cleveland is currently 12 ½ games behind the team occupying the third and final spot. The recent struggles for Cleveland can largely be attributed to subpar offensive performance, as they have lost four of their last five games.
The Guardians rank 27th in runs scored, 28th in slugging percentage, and have a slightly better standing at 15th in team batting average. Jose Ramirez leads Cleveland in home runs with 23 and is second in RBI with 75, while Josh Naylor tops the team in RBI with 88.
Cleveland’s notable strength this season has been its pitching staff; however, it hasn’t been sufficient to compensate for the lack of run production. The team currently ranks eighth in team ERA with a 3.95 mark. However, they dropped to 12th in Quality Starts with 53 and 16th in batting average allowed at .245.
Tanner Bibee has been the standout pitcher for the Guardians, leading the team in victories with 10 and strikeouts with 137. On the mound for Cleveland is Lucas Giolito, a right-hander with a record of 7-13, an ERA of 4.89, and 177 strikeouts.
Throughout the current season, Texas has consistently maintained a prominent position in the American League West standings. Presently, they hold the second spot, primarily attributed to their impressive offensive performance. However, the team has been grappling with a significant setback due to injuries, particularly the absence of their top home run hitter and RBI producer, Adolis Garcia, and their All-Star third baseman, Josh Jung. Garcia has amassed an impressive 34 home runs and 100 RBIs, while Jung has contributed with 24 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, and 67 RBIs. Notably, Corey Seager is presently the active leader in home runs with 30, and he also tops the charts in RBIs with 89, showcasing his prowess as the team’s shortstop.
Regrettably, injuries have also taken a toll on the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff. Max Scherzer’s recent unavailability for the remainder of the regular season has exacerbated their challenges. Currently, the team ranks 17th in team ERA with a 4.26, and they stand 10th in WHIP with a 1.26. Their pitching has allowed opposing hitters to maintain an average of .245 at the plate, positioning them at 15th in the league in this regard. Despite these challenges, Nathan Eovaldi leads Texas in victories with 11 wins, and Andrew Heaney has demonstrated his prowess by leading the team with an impressive 141 strikeouts.
Taking the mound for Texas on Friday will be Jon Gray, a right-hander with an 8-7 record this season. He boasts an ERA of 3.96 and has recorded 131 strikeouts, making him a key asset for the team’s pitching rotation.
Texas had a challenging August, but the Rangers have recently regained their momentum. They’ve triumphed in five of their last five games and secured victories in five of their last six away matches. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s struggles continue, with seven losses in their last ten games, bringing them perilously close to being eliminated from postseason contention.
Jon Gray, the starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers, endured a rough patch in his last three outings. However, the team managed to win all three games, thanks to their potent offense compensating for Gray’s below-par starts. On the other hand, Lucas Giolito, the right-handed pitcher recently acquired by Cleveland, has had a tough time in his two starts, surrendering 13 earned runs in just 10 innings pitched. This has resulted in the Guardians suffering back-to-back defeats with a combined score of 26-6.
Despite facing injuries to key players like Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia, the Texas Rangers have seen their other talented stars, including Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Johan Heim, step up admirably in their absence.
Our Pick: Take Rangers and the Money Line
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