The Guardians have one more shot to leave Great American Ball Park with the Ohio Cup, and Wednesday night’s finale against the Reds carries that chance straight into the heart of a tight series.
Cleveland opened the three-game set by taking Tuesday’s first game of the split doubleheader, 6-5, then watched a strong Gavin Williams start go to waste in a 2-0 loss in the nightcap. That left the series even heading into the rubber game, with the Guardians also trying to lock up a season series win over Cincinnati.
The bigger issue for Cleveland has been offense. The club managed only two hits in Tuesday’s second game, and it will need more from the middle of the order if it wants to finish the job. José Ramírez, Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo remain the key names at the top of that effort as the Guardians keep searching for steadier production with the MLB trade deadline approaching.
A victory would hand Cleveland the Ohio Cup and give the team a lift as it stays in the middle of a crowded American League playoff race.
Here are the starting lineups for Wednesday’s game:
GUARDIANS
LF Steven Kwan.
3B José Ramírez.
RF Chase DeLauter.
DH Travis Bazzana.
SS Brayan Rocchio.
1B Kyle Manzardo.
2B Gabriel Arias.
C Patrick Bailey.
CF Petey Halpin.
REDS
SS Elly De La Cruz.
1B Sal Stewart.
CF Dane Myers.
DH Eugenio Suarez.
C Tyler Stephenson.
RF Noelvi Marte.
LF Ivan Johnson.
2B Edwin Arroyo.
3B Ke’Bryan Hayes.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Linked To The Kind Of Bat Fans Have Begged For
The Guardians search for a right-handed bat has reportedly led them to a familiar trade partner in Toronto, with George Springer emerging as a possible fit. Cleveland has been looking for offense, and Springers profile makes sense on paper because he can help at designated hitter or in the outfield, giving the lineup a veteran presence without forcing a complete roster shuffle.
Financially, though, this is where the conversation gets complicated. Springer still has a sizable salary attached for next season, even if Toronto has already absorbed most of it, and Cleveland may need the Blue Jays to eat more money before anything gets serious. The two clubs have done business before, but for now this feels like the kind of idea that makes sense for the Guardians right up until the part where the bill arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Found A Deadline Bat Fans Would Actually Feel
The Guardians have spent enough summers trying to patch together enough offense to survive a deadline, so a bat with real thump and some defensive flexibility is the kind of idea that at least makes sense on paper. The latest name floating into that conversation is a slugger who can handle the outfield and even pick up some designated-hitter work, which matters for a club that has to squeeze value out of every roster spot.
There are still reasons to pause before treating him as the answer, though. His recent track record against left-handed pitching points to more of a platoon profile than a true middle-of-the-order fix, and the price tag would not be light for a player under arbitration control through 2029. For Cleveland, the question is whether adding that kind of bat is worth dipping into a prospect group it has been careful to protect. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Finally Have A Marlins Bat Worth The Risk
As the trade deadline approaches, the Guardians are still searching for a bat that can change the look of their lineup without forcing them to overpay for a short-term fix. Miami has at least one outfielder who fits that broad description, and the appeal is obvious: Cleveland needs more impact from the left side, and any realistic addition has to be good enough to matter while still fitting the clubs usual cost-conscious approach.
The catch is that this kind of move rarely comes cheaply, especially when a contender is trying to pry away a player who could step into the lineup right away. For the Guardians, the decision is less about whether the fit makes sense and more about how much of the farm system they are willing to part with to make it happen, a calculation that could shape the rest of their deadline. [Read more 🡒]