Lucas Giolito looks to make it two in a row as he is starting Wednesday afternoon for the Guardians.
Andres Gimenez continues his hot September batting .354 so far in the final month of the baseball season.
In September, at a critical point in the season, the Cleveland Guardians have gone 8-9 so far in September.
Cleveland had a dominant performance in its recent series against Texas, where they swept the Rangers, outscoring them 23-6 across three games. However, despite this success, the team has struggled to replicate its postseason run from last year, and it appears they will not be part of the postseason action this October.
The Guardians have averaged 4.09 runs per game, ranking 27th in the league, and they maintain a .250 batting average, placing them 15th, with a .694 OPS, which is 27th in the league. Offensively, they’ve hit 116 home runs (30th in the league) and stolen 139 bases (5th in the league) this season. On the pitching side, the Cleveland staff has put up a respectable 3.91 ERA, ranking 6th, and a 1.28 WHIP, ranking 15th, along with 55 quality starts, placing them 12th.
Taking the mound for the visiting team on Wednesday afternoon will be Giolito, an eighth-year pro who has already played for three different teams this season. He holds a record of 3-9 with a 5.97 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 16 road appearances with the White Sox, Angels, and Guardians. In his most recent start, he was dominant, holding the Rangers scoreless and recording 12 strikeouts over seven innings. Giolito also earned two victories against Kansas City in May, limiting the Royals to just three runs while striking out 13 batters in a combined 12 innings of work.
Kansas City is gaining momentum as they head towards the end of their recent games, securing victories in five of their last six matches. This winning streak has been fueled by an impressive offensive performance, averaging 6.5 runs per game.
The Royals’ regular season statistics show that they typically score an average of 4.12 runs per game, ranking them 26th in the league. Their batting average stands at .242, placing them 20th, with a .697 OPS, also ranking 26th. They’ve hit 150 home runs (26th) and have excelled in stolen bases, with 152 (ranking 3rd) in the 2023 season. On the pitching side, the Kansas City staff has struggled, posting a high 5.22 ERA (28th) and a 1.41 WHIP (24th), with only 31 quality starts (29th).
For the upcoming series finale on Wednesday, Greinke will be taking the mound for the home team. In his most recent start, he delivered a stellar performance by keeping Houston scoreless and limiting them to just three hits over two innings, marking his shortest outing of the season. However, it’s worth noting that the seasoned 20-year veteran has faced challenges against Cleveland this season, allowing a total of six runs on 15 hits across 11 innings of combined play.
In his previous two appearances this season, Giolito has performed admirably against Kansas City. He showcased his pitching prowess in his most recent outing against Houston, making a strong comeback after a couple of lackluster starts earlier in the month. I anticipate that his accumulated experience and current momentum will greatly benefit him in Wednesday’s matchup, particularly against a Royals lineup that will be missing Perez.
As for Greinke, his illustrious career is nearing its end, and while it has been impressive, his impact on this game is likely to be minimal, if at all positive. The veteran with 224 career wins is expected to pitch no more than four innings before handing over the ball to a Kansas City bullpen that has struggled, boasting one of the worst ERAs (5.21) and WHIPs (1.48) in Major League Baseball.
Our Pick: Take Guardians and the Money Line
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