Cal Quantrill will be making his last start in 2023 on Friday against Detroit. Qunatrill has been great since coming back off of the IL with an ERA of 1.95 in five starts.
The Tigers are starting lefty Joey Wentz, who in his last start against the Guards pitched five shutout innings. Currently, Cleveland is batting to an average of .232 compared to .259 against righties (courtesy of ESPN).
Andres Gimenez is having a great September with a batting average of .356 raising his overall average by 20 points in that span
Cleveland is set to conclude its regular season in Detroit after dividing a two-game series with Cincinnati. While it may not have been the season that fans had anticipated following last year’s playoff success, Cleveland is expected to remain competitive in the AL Central race for the 2024 season.
The Guardians have been averaging 4.11 runs per game, ranking 27th in the league, and maintaining a batting average of .250 (14th) with a .694 OPS (27th). They have hit 121 home runs (30th) and stolen 146 bases (6th) in the 2023 season. On the pitching side, the staff boasts a 3.95 ERA (8th) and a 1.30 WHIP (18th) while recording 57 quality starts (12th).
Taking the mound for the visiting team on Friday night in Detroit will be Cal Quantrill. In his most recent appearance, the fifth-year pro limited Baltimore to just one run over four innings, although he ended up with a loss. Quantrill has been performing exceptionally well in September, posting a 1.95 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in five outings spanning 27.2 innings. Notably, he secured a victory against Detroit on April 19 by holding the Tigers scoreless through six innings.
On Thursday, Detroit concluded its series against Kansas City and is now gearing up to host Cleveland at Comerica Stadium for its final homestand of the season. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the team can leverage its improved performance in the latter half of the season to secure a spot in the 2024 playoffs.
The Tigers’ offensive statistics paint a challenging picture. They are currently averaging 4.03 runs per game, ranking them 28th in the league. Their batting average stands at .234, also placing them 28th, with a .681 OPS, which again ranks them 28th. In terms of home runs, they’ve hit 161, ranking 25th, and they’ve stolen 81 bases, ranking 26th for the season. On the pitching front, their staff has achieved a 4.29 ERA (17th) and a 1.25 WHIP (9th), managing 43 quality starts (26th).
Taking the mound for the Tigers on Friday evening is Wentz. In his most recent outing, the second-year left-handed pitcher surrendered two runs and three hits over 5.2 innings, resulting in a loss against Oakland. Unfortunately, his performance at Comerica Park this season hasn’t been stellar, as he holds a 0-4 record with a 7.38 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 12 appearances. However, there is a glimmer of hope as Wentz has faced the Guardians twice in 2023, limiting them to just two runs across 10.2 combined innings.
Quantrill has been on fire since his return to the big league club on September 1, allowing just six runs in a total of 27.2 innings against five opponents. He also performed admirably in his previous outing against the Tigers earlier this year. I anticipate another strong performance from the right-hander, especially considering his better ERA and WHIP on the road compared to at home.
On the other hand, Wentz is set to face a Cleveland lineup that has posted a .261 batting average, a .328 on-base percentage, a .384 slugging percentage, and a .713 OPS in September. In contrast to Quantrill, Wentz hasn’t been at his best on the mound this month, with a 5.14 ERA. To make matters more challenging, he’s going up against a division rival who just scored 11 runs in two games against Cincinnati.
Cleveland had a day off on Thursday, while Detroit played the remainder of Wednesday night’s suspended game and another game shortly after. I anticipate that the Guardians, who have a 4-2 record when they have a rest advantage this season, will be fresh and prepared for Friday night. With odds at -110, my bet is on Cleveland to emerge victorious!
Our Pick: Take Guardians and the Money Line
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