A little over a year ago, Josh Naylor had one of the most memorable moments in Cleveland baseball history as he became the first player in MLB to have eight RBIs after the 8th inning setting the record and becoming the first player in major league history with multiple three-run home runs (or a grand slam) from the ninth inning on in a game (ESPN Stats). Still get chills watching Naylor jump around the bases and into the dugout.
After the Guards faced three left-handed starters in a row from the Angels, the White Sox will start right-handers in all three games.
The White Sox have fallen completely off the grid as they come into the series at 14-28. It was only a year ago that Chicago was the heavy favorite to win the Central last season and even some had the ChiSox winning it this year, but so far it has been a season of frustration and disappointment.
In a hard-fought matchup, the Cleveland Guardians managed to snatch a 4-3 victory against the Los Angeles Angels, rallying with three runs in the eighth inning. The standout performer of the game was Josh Naylor, who played the hero role with three RBIs, two hits (including a home run), and two runs scored. The rest of the team had limited offensive contributions, with only one hit per player and no other RBIs to note. On the pitching side, Tanner Bibee delivered an excellent start, going 7.2 innings, surrendering just one earned run, two hits, and striking out seven. Despite a rough outing, Emmanuel Clase secured the save in the ninth inning, allowing two runs.
The White Sox were defeated by the Astros 4-3 Tuesday. Luis Robert went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and an RBI in the defeat, while Lucas Giolito took the loss on the mound, throwing six innings, and giving up four earned runs on seven hits while striking out six.
The Chicago White Sox have struggled in their recent matchups against right-handed starting pitchers, losing four out of their last five games. Additionally, they have also had a tough time in their last six home games against teams with losing records, managing to win only one of those games.
In the upcoming series opener between these longstanding Midwest rivals, I believe Cleveland has a good chance of winning outright. The Guardians will be up against Lynn, who has performed poorly in his recent starts, allowing four or more runs in his last five outings and giving up seven earned runs in his most recent game against Kansas City. On the other hand, Cleveland is coming off a series victory in Anaheim and will have their ace on the mound for the first game.
Bieber has been incredibly reliable this year, consistently surrendering three or fewer runs in all of his starts. In his most recent outing, he didn’t give up a single run and, apart from a couple of home runs, performed exceptionally well in his previous start against the Yankees, allowing only two runs in eight innings. Last season, the 27-year-old pitcher emerged victorious in three out of five matchups against the White Sox, limiting them to two or fewer runs in four of those games. He pitched at least six-plus innings in all five starts, even completing a nine-inning game on July 12.
The White Sox have struggled more against right-handed pitchers compared to left-handed ones, evident from their .293 on-base percentage, .378 slugging percentage, and 24.2% strikeout rate. They are likely to face difficulties getting runners on base and finding opportunities to score against Bieber, who should easily record eight or more strikeouts while leading his team to victory.
If you're a fan of Cleveland sports and want to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, and insights on your favorite teams, signing up for the Cleveland sports newsletter is a no-brainer.
Leave a Reply