There was plenty to like in Cleveland’s week, and that starts with the simplest number of all: five wins in six games.
The Guardians took two of three from the San Francisco Giants, then swept the Colorado Rockies to finish 5-1. Their only loss came by a single run.
Even better for a club that had been quiet at the plate for more than two weeks, the offense finally woke up and backed it up with production. Cleveland outscored its opponents 33-10 over the stretch.
That surge has changed the look of the standings, too. After dropping as far as fourth in the AL Central, the Guardians are back in second place.
They trail the Chicago White Sox by 3.5 games and currently hold the third Wild Card spot. In other words, they’re getting hot right when they need it most.
The weekend also brought a little extra personality with the return of Players’ Weekend. The annual event gives teams a chance to loosen up a bit, with players using nicknames and showing off custom designs on bats, gloves, and shoes.
The Guardians even worked those nicknames into their lineup graphics each day. Some players kept it simple, while others leaned all the way in, like “The Jo Show.”
And then there was Gavin “Big Rig” Williams, who added a personal milestone to the week. On August 20th against the San Francisco Giants, he recorded his 200th strikeout.
He struck out 10 in that outing, which tied him with Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second-most double digit strikeout games in MLB this year. Best of all for Cleveland, he came away with the win.
In Other News...
Guardians Face A Growing Chase DeLauter Concern In Playoff Push
Jo Adell got his first taste of the Guardians playoff push quickly after arriving from the Angels, speaking to reporters at Angel Stadium following his Aug. 3 trade and then helping his new club by driving in a run in Clevelands win over his former team. It was a tidy snapshot of what the Guardians are chasing right now, as they try to stay in the mix in the American League Central while also protecting a wild card position.
The bigger concern hanging over that race is Chase DeLauter, whose injury has become an increasingly important subplot for a team trying to survive the stretch run. Cleveland can lean on newcomers and lineup depth in the short term, but the margin for error gets thinner if one of its more intriguing pieces remains unavailable as the pressure builds. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Slade Cecconi Decision Coming
Slade Cecconi is beginning to edge back into the Guardians picture after landing on the 15-day injured list with right arm fatigue. The right-hander is set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus, where he is expected to make several appearances as Cleveland gets a closer look at where he stands physically and how quickly he can build back up.
What makes the next stretch interesting for the Guardians is that Cecconi may not be returning to a single, fixed job. Depending on how the staff looks when he is ready, Cleveland could slot him back into the rotation or use him out of the bullpen, and the teams health and roster needs will help determine the path. [Read more 🡒]
Parker Messick Is Forcing A Debate Cleveland Fans Never Expected
Parker Messick has gone from intriguing rookie to one of the more important arms in the Cleveland rotation, and he has done it with the kind of consistency that tends to change the conversation around a young pitcher fast. The left-hander has paired a 2.50 ERA with 156 strikeouts over 155 innings, and the most notable part of his rise may be how often he has looked comfortable in the moments that matter most, using a varied pitch mix to navigate tough lineups and keep games under control.
His 10-8 record still leaves plenty of room for the usual short-hand evaluation, but the broader picture is harder to ignore. Around the club and among some analysts, Messick is starting to come up in the same breath as the American League's top pitchers, which is not where anyone expected the discussion to be when the season began. For Cleveland, the question is no longer whether he belongs in the rotation. It is how far his performance can push him in a Cy Young race that suddenly feels worth mentioning. [Read more 🡒]