Guardians vs. Rockies Preview Game 24 | 6:10 PM. EST. 4/25

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The Guardians have been struggling to maintain a home-field advantage at Progressive Field, losing their first three series and putting themselves at risk of a fourth consecutive loss in their 2023 season. Despite finishing 46-35 at home last year and winning a division crown, they need to improve their performance in home contests. In addition, the team needs to focus on consistent scoring, as they currently rank 23rd in runs and were shut out for the third time this season.

3 Things for GM 2 Rockies.

1 – Need to start winning at home. 

With the Rockies and, previously, the Marlins coming into town, this should be an opportunity for the Guardians to win some games, but so far only 1-3 in the homestand and currently 3-7 overall at home.  The home record must start turning around ASAP for the Guards to be playing in late October.

2 – Can Peyton Battenfield get his first win of the season? 

So far, in two starts, Battenfield has looked the part of a starting pitcher with an ERA under two.  This team could use a boost, it would not surprise us if Battenfield lifts the team with another solid start.

3 – Giménez 

Andrés Giménez has yet to get a hit in the homestand.  There’s been a focus on Josh Naylor and Amed Rosario for not doing enough with the bats; Giménez needs to start getting on base too.

Pitching Match-Up

Peyton Battenfield

• The Guardians are sending Battenfield (0-1) out to make his third start of the season.
• His most recent appearance was on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, when the right-hander tossed six innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up three hits.
• He has a 1.69 ERA and 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while opponents are batting .184 against him over his two appearances this season.
• He will face a Rockies offense that ranks 23rd in the league with 92 runs while batting .244 as a squad. It has a collective .375 slugging percentage (23rd in MLB action) and has hit a total of 20 home runs (24th in MLB).

Ryan Feltner

• Feltner (1-2 with a 6.16 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings pitched) makes the start for the Rockies, his fifth of the season.
• In his last appearance on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies, the right-hander went 5 2/3 scoreless innings while surrendering three hits.
• In four games this season, the 26-year-old has an ERA of 6.16, with 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .243 against him.
• Feltner is trying to record his third start of five or more innings this year in this matchup.
• The opposing Guardians offense have a collective .229 batting average and are 19th in the league with 178 total hits and 25th in MLB play with 90 runs scored. They have the 27th-ranked slugging percentage (.344) and are 29th in all of MLB with 12 home runs.

Hitting Trends

Guardians Batting Stats

• The Guardians rank 29th in Major League Baseball with just 12 home runs as a team.
• Hitters for Cleveland have combined to rank 27th in MLB with a slugging percentage of only .344 this season.
• The Guardians rank 24th in MLB with a .229 team batting average.
• Cleveland ranks 25th in the majors with 90 total runs scored this season.
• The Guardians have an on-base percentage of .314 this season, which ranks 19th in the league.
• Cleveland is one of the most-disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking third with an average of 7.3 strikeouts per game.

Rockies Batting Stats

• The Rockies are 24th in baseball with 20 home runs. They average 0.8 per game.
• So far this year, Colorado’s .375 slugging percentage is 23rd in the majors.
• The Rockies are 15th in MLB with a .244 batting average.
• Colorado scores the 23rd-most runs in baseball (92 total, 3.8 per game).
• The Rockies rank 21st in baseball with an on-base percentage of .306.

Cleveland’s weaknesses in home runs and slugging percentage from 2022 have carried over to the new year, at least in the first month of the season. While the team excels in drawing walks and stealing bases, they also need more big hits to turn this around and start winning games and series.

Rookie pitcher Peyton Battenfield has shown promise in his first two career starts, despite receiving minimal run support from the team. He has allowed only three runs, two of which were earned, in 10.2 innings pitched.

Fortunately, the team’s bullpen is strong and has the potential to keep games close. Emmanuel Clase is a reliable closer, and Trevor Stephan has a 1.74 ERA so far. The bullpen is also adept at stranding runners and maintaining a sub-3.50 ERA.