The Guardians and White Sox will determine who is the early AL Central leader over the next three days
The Guardians are 41-37 with a -7 run differential, 23rd in wRC+ at 92 (70 wRC+ since Jose Ramirez went down), tenth in baserunning runs above average at 2.4, 11th in Defense at -6.1, eighth in starting pitching ERA at 3.81 (4.15 FIP), and tenth in bullpen ERA at 3.76 (3.71 FIP).
The White Sox are 39-37 with a -4 run differential, 13th in wRC+ at 102, 19th in baserunning runs above average at -1.6,
13th in Defense at -7.3, 20th in starting pitching ERA at 4.53 (4.41 FIP), and 18th in bullpen ERA at 4.30 (4.41 FIP).
The Guardians will have to outpitch the White Sox to win this series and keep scores low.
MATCHUPS:
Game One, Monday, 7:40PM ET: Gavin Williams, RHP 3.83 (4.03 FIP) vs. Anthony Kay, LHP 4.61 ERA (5.32 FIP).
Game Two, Tuesday, 7:40PM ET: Parker Messick, LHP 2.70 ERA (3.21 FIP) vs. Sean Burke, RHP 3.89 ERA (3.97 FIP)
Game Three, Wednesday, 2:10PM ET: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.03 ERA (4.66 FIP) vs. Erick Fedde, RHP 4.46 ERA (5.60 FIP)
The Guardians need their three best pitchers to actually pitch like it this week. Time to show what you’re made of, Gavin, Parker and Tanner. The boys need ya.
Watch out for Sam Antonacci 130 wRC+, Miguel Vargas 127 wRC+, Tristan Peters 121 wRC+, Colson Montgomery 120 wRC+, and Chase Meidroth 103 wRC+ on the White Sox. Also, Randal Grichuk is hitting well at the moment and I’m not sure what to make of that. Chicago better avoid Travis Bazzana, Kyle Manzardo and Brayan Rocchio… and that’s about darn it.
Here goes nothing, folks.
