The Guardians head into Thursday afternoon’s series finale at Progressive Field with a simple need: shake off Wednesday’s 1-0 loss and get the bats moving again.
Cleveland fell to 61-66 after getting blanked for the 12th time this season, and the timing is especially rough with Rhys Hoskins on the injured list and Jo Adell and Chase DeLauter also dealing with injuries. That leaves the Guardians trying to find runs while still hanging 1 1/2 games back in the American League wild-card chase.
The good news for Cleveland is the pitching has given them a chance to stay in it. Parker Messick struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings Wednesday, and Gavin Williams brings his own overpowering numbers into Thursday’s start. Williams has punched out 190 batters in 149 innings this season, giving the Guardians another shot at a strong outing from the rotation.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET.
The Guardians’ lineup has Steven Kwan leading off in left field, followed by Travis Bazzana at DH and José Ramírez at third. Nathaniel Lowe bats fourth at first, with Angel Genao in the five spot at second. Angel Martínez is in right, Patrick Bailey is behind the plate, Petey Halpin is in center and Brayan Rocchio is at shortstop.
San Francisco counters with Drew Gilbert in center, Rafael Devers at DH and Willy Adames at short. Bryce Eldrige is at first, Jung Hoo Lee is in right and Osleivis Basabe handles second. Turner Hill is in left, Drew Cavanaugh catches and Christian Koss rounds out the order at third.
In Other News...
Gabriel Arias Just Got Another Big League Lifeline
Gabriel Arias has turned into one of those players who keeps finding a new organization with a need at just the right moment. After Cleveland designated him for assignment, he was first picked up by the Mets and then landed with the Cubs, who were looking to bolster their infield mix after Dansby Swanson hit the injured list. For a player still trying to carve out a stable major league role, that kind of movement can be unsettling, but it also shows there is still a market for his glove and versatility.
What makes this latest stop especially interesting is the roster squeeze that comes with it. Arias is out of minor league options, so Chicago cannot simply stash him away for insurance if the fit is not perfect. He has to stay on the major league roster unless the Cubs take the risk of designating him again and he gets through waivers, which leaves his immediate future tied to how aggressively they want to use him in the middle infield. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Prospect Just Made Cleveland Revisit An Uncomfortable Trade
Matt Wilkinsons first big league appearance came with a little extra meaning attached, since the Giants handed him the ball against Cleveland at Progressive Field after acquiring him from the Guardians earlier this season. Working as an opener, the former Guardians prospect settled in quickly and covered two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while showing enough poise to make his debut look much bigger than the moment usually allows.
For Cleveland, it also turned into a reminder of the trade that sent Wilkinson away, especially because he lined up against a pair of familiar faces from his High-A Lake County days. Angel Genao and Travis Bazzana were among the batters he handled in that outing, a small detail that only sharpened the sense that the Guardians were watching a player they once developed begin his career somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Plesac's Latest Baseball Chapter Is A Tough Reminder For Cleveland Fans
Zach Plesacs baseball journey has taken another turn, and for Cleveland fans it serves as a reminder of how quickly a once-promising pitching career can drift from the big leagues. The former Guardians right-hander has already been through stops with the Angels and several independent and minor league clubs, keeping his professional life alive well beyond the familiar settings where he first made his name in Cleveland.
Now in the American Association, Plesac has found himself in some unfamiliar roles as he keeps chasing another chance to stick. His latest chapter has even included time in the field, and a small offensive contribution in one of those games showed just how far his path has stretched from the mound-only profile most fans remember. [Read more 🡒]