The Guards have still not been swept in 2023 and will need lefty Logan Allen to step up in what feels like a must-win game for morale. Obviously, Cleveland will be ok either way, but this club needs some positive vibes.
Mike Zunino, who had two more strikeouts last night, is now 0 for 27 in the month of May with 21 strikeouts. Yikes.
There is good news for today’s game, the bullpen has not been exhausted as Xzavion Curry has done a good job in the first two games of saving the bullpen from using Emmanuel Clase, Trevor Stephan, and James Karinchak.
By the conclusion of 2022, it was widely acknowledged that the Cleveland Guardians possessed a well-rounded lineup, with the exception of their catchers.
The combined performance of Cleveland’s catchers, primarily led by Austin Hedges and Luke Maile, was abysmal, boasting a meager .180 batting average and a .534 OPS, ranking them at the bottom of the league. Recognizing the urgency to address this issue during the offseason, the team’s front office prioritized acquiring a catcher with offensive potential.
Consequently, the Guardians signed Mike Zunino to a one-year contract, despite his well-known defensive struggles. The signing carried some risk, but it seemed worthwhile due to Zunino’s impressive 33 home runs in the 2021 season.
Unfortunately, Zunino has yet to deliver on his offensive potential. His current season slash line stands at a disappointing .165/.276/.318, and as called out above in our 3 things section, in the month of May alone, he has gone 0-for-27 with 21 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Bo Naylor has been thriving at Triple-A Columbus, showcasing a batting average of .262 and an impressive OPS of .926. Notably, Naylor has displayed his power-hitting abilities by smacking nine home runs.
Given the inconsistency within Cleveland’s lineup, such noteworthy production from Naylor cannot be overlooked. It would be prudent to provide him with an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities at the Major League level.
Burger now holds the highest OPS and SLG percentage among hitters, boasting impressive numbers of .969 and .648 respectively. However, Luis Robert stands out with the most home runs and ranks second on the team with 27 RBIs. Despite hitting only four home runs, Vaughn manages to lead the Chicago squad in RBIs with 29. Yoan Moncada demonstrates his prowess by leading the team in batting average with a solid .300, despite his limited action. Additionally, Yasmani Grandal takes the lead in OBP with an impressive .349. On the pitching side, Reynaldo Lopez has successfully saved four out of eight opportunities as the closer, while Keynan Middleton showcases his skill with a 2.19 ERA across fourteen outings. In the rotation, Lucas Giolito leads the team with a 3.86 ERA in nine starts.
As the White Sox prepare to face the Guardians, all eyes are on Dylan Cease. With a WHIP of 1.45 and a 4.86 ERA, Cease has recorded 54 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched. In his last start against the Astros, Cease delivered an outstanding performance, going six innings without conceding any runs, and striking out five while allowing two walks. It was arguably his best start of the season. Despite the team’s success, they have encountered some injuries, with only five players listed on the injury report. Notable names such as Eloy Jimenez, Elvis Andrus, and Liam Hendricks are all out long-term.
The White Sox are the favorites to win with a money line of -140, while the Guardians have odds of +120. Vegas thinks we lose today, do you blame them for thinking this way?
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