With the fires in Canada, there’s an air quality advisory for the Cleveland metro area today, possibly postponing tonight’s game with the Red Sox. If the game is played it will be Aaron Civale on the mound tonight for the Guards.
Jose Ramirez doubled in the 5th inning moving Ramirez into fifth place on Cleveland’s all-time list for extra-base hits with 539 passing Ken Keltner at 538.
In the past three series with Baltimore, Minnesota, and Boston, Cleveland has only gotten a quality start from Logan Allen. Allen has two quality starts in his two appearances winning both.
In the first game of the series, the Guardians appeared to be in control with their ace Shane Bieber on the mound and a 2-0 lead. However, they couldn’t hold on as the Red Sox mounted a comeback, scoring five runs in the final three innings, resulting in a disappointing 5-4 loss. Nevertheless, the Guardians managed to bounce back on Wednesday night, securing a 5-2 victory. Their offense came alive with a strong 10-hit performance, supported by four scoreless innings from the bullpen. With this win, Cleveland now enters the third and decisive game of the series with an opportunity to clinch the series victory.
Taking the mound for Cleveland in the crucial game is right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale. Civale has made only three starts this season, as he spent the entire month of May on the injured list. Despite his limited appearances, he holds a solid 2-1 record. He boasts an impressive ERA of 2.04, a strikeout rate of 6.1 per nine innings (K/9), and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.08. Civale showcased his skills in his first game back from injury last Friday against the Minnesota Twins, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing only four hits. Unfortunately, the Guardians suffered a 1-0 loss in that game despite his strong performance.
Once again, the Boston Red Sox find themselves at an even 31-31 record as they enter the third game of this series. The Sox began the series with an impressive comeback, securing a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night. However, they stumbled in the second game, succumbing to a 5-2 defeat. Despite facing pitching challenges on Wednesday, with Kutter Crawford pitching three innings and rookie call-up Chris Murphy delivering 3.1 scoreless innings to keep the game competitive, the Red Sox managed to briefly hold a 2-1 lead before defensive errors cost them the advantage.
With Crawford and Murphy both utilized in the previous game, it is anticipated that Corey Kluber will take the mound on Thursday. Kluber, who struggled throughout the season, was shifted to the bullpen on May 21st. With a record of 3-6 and an ERA of 6.25 in a total of 11 appearances (nine starts), Kluber’s performance has been inconsistent. Nonetheless, Sox manager Alex Cora likely hopes that Kluber can tap into the skills that once made him Cleveland’s top pitcher for several seasons. Kluber has given up 11 home runs this season and has a K/9 rate of 7.3.
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