This really is a crucial series for the Guardians.
The White Sox lead the AL Central and have a 4-3 season series lead against Cleveland so far this season. Both teams enter the series having been swept… Cleveland by the pitiful Mets and Chicago by the scorching hot Red Sox.
The White Sox are 59-55 with a +38 run differential, 13th in wRC+ at 101, 20th in baserunning runs above average at -3.4, 13th in Defense at -12.5, 19th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.34 (4.28 FIP) and 10th in bullpen ERA at 3.82
(4.01 FIP).
The Guardians are 57-59 with a -28 run differential, 25th in wRC+ at 93, 6th in baserunning runs above average at +5.6, 10th in Defense at -6.3, sixth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.69 (3.91 FIP) and eighth in bullpen ERA at 3.81 (3.81 FIP).
Matchups:
Friday, 7:40PM ET Noah Schultz LHP vs. Parker Messick, LHP
Saturday, 7:15PM ET Anthony Kay, RHP vs. Gavin Williams, RHP
Sunday, 2:10PM ET Davis Martin, RHP vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP
The White Sox are led by Muntaka Murakami at 151 wRC+, Randal Grichuk at 137 wRC+, Miguel Vargas at 129 wRC+, Sam Antonacci at 121 wRC+, Chase Meidroth at 110 wRC+, Andrew Benintendi at 105 wRC+, Tristan Peters at 104 wRC+ and Colson Montgomery at 104 wRC+.
The Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter at 125 wRC+, Nate Lowe at 123 wRC+, Travis Bazzana 109 wRC+, Austin Hedges 108 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 101 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 101 wRC+ and Steven Kwan 101 wRC+.
The season comes down to this. Wither goest thou, Guardians?
