The Guardians have a chance to finish the job Tuesday night.
After pulling out a 6-5 comeback win in the opener, Cleveland heads into Game 2 of the split doubleheader at Great American Ball Park needing just one more victory over the final two games to take back the Ohio Cup. Brayan Rocchio delivered the key blow in Game 1, dropping down an eighth-inning squeeze bunt to push the Guardians over the top.
Now the focus shifts to the second game, with right-hander Gavin Williams set to start for Cleveland. Williams is 10-5 with a 3.78 ERA. Cincinnati will counter with left-hander Caleb Ferguson, who is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and is expected to open a bullpen game for the Reds.
The Guardians also added rookie right-hander Daniel Espino as the 27th man for the doubleheader, giving Cleveland another arm after the bullpen took on a heavy load in the opener.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park.
The game will be carried on CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guardians Radio Network.
Cleveland’s lineup starts with Steven Kwan in left, José Ramírez at DH and Chase DeLauter in right. Rhys Hoskins bats fourth, followed by Rocchio, Travis Bazzana and Gabriel Arias. Austin Hedges is behind the plate, with Petey Halpin in center.
Cincinnati’s order opens with Elly De La Cruz at shortstop, followed by Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe, Dane Myers, Noelvi Marte, Ivan Johnson, Jose Trevino and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
In Other News...
Guardians May Have A Real Answer To Their First Base Problem
Clevelands first-base search has been one of the quieter frustrations around an offense that has needed more certainty from that spot, and Ty France has emerged as a name worth watching. The Padres first baseman has put together a much stronger season than the Guardians got from Rhys Hoskins, with better contact quality, better overall production, and a profile that looks a lot more like the kind of steady middle-of-the-order bat Cleveland has been missing.
France is not a report of a done deal, just a possible answer if San Diego decides to listen. The fit makes sense on paper because the Guardians have been looking for more offense without sacrificing too much balance, but the real question is whether the Padres are willing to move him and what kind of return would even get them to the table. For now, it is one of those July ideas that feels more practical than flashy, which is often how Cleveland has to shop. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Finally Got The One Boost Fans Have Been Desperate For
The Guardians got a needed lift Wednesday with Jos Ramrez back in the lineup after missing time with a left hamate fracture, and the timing could not have been better. Cleveland also put together its biggest power display of the season against Minnesota, launching seven home runs in a game that featured contributions all over the order, including a pair from Rhys Hoskins as the offense finally looked like it had some depth behind its star.
For a club that has spent plenty of time searching for a spark, the bigger picture was hard to miss: the lineup looked more dangerous with Ramrez available, and the extra thunder gave the Guardians a chance to reset some momentum. There was also a more meaningful subplot around the series, as Cleveland and Minnesota teamed up for a charity effort that raised money for the Venezuelan Red Cross, a reminder that even on nights built around offense, there can be something larger happening around the game. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Got A Fascinating Verdict On The Shane Bieber Trade
When the Guardians sent Shane Bieber to Toronto last year, it looked like the kind of move that could be judged in layers for a long time. Cleveland was still able to surge back and win the AL Central, while Bieber helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series, giving both clubs immediate reasons to feel good about the swap even before the long-term evaluation comes into focus.
The early read on Clevelands side is tied to a young arm in the system, and the organization has already seen some of the ripple effects at the major league level. With Bieber no longer occupying a spot in the rotation picture, Parker Messick got his debut on Aug. 20, and the Guardians now have to keep watching how the return develops while a deeper verdict on the deal remains very much in progress. [Read more 🡒]