Another Guardians loss combined with a Royals win has their lead in the AL Central down to just one game
The Guardians’ lead in the AL Central has shrunk to just 1 game for the first time since the morning of May 14.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) August 24, 2024
There is not much left to say here about the Guardians. The vibes seem to be at a low point this season. Our three best hitters all continue to be in slumps, as Kwan, Ramirez, and Josh Naylor all failed to record a hit tonight.
Kwan - 4 for last 37
— Brett Zelman (@blouiszelman) August 24, 2024
J. Naylor - 0 for 18 and 3 for 33
Jose - 2 for 26
Doesn’t really matter what the rest of the lineup is doing when your 3 best hitters are 9 for 96 in the last week. Hitting under .100.
It’s pretty impossible to compete against good teams when you have a top heavy lineup of stars that are all in terrible slumps at the same time. For weeks I have been of the opinion that they need to call up any of George Valera, Kyle Manzardo, or Gabriel Arias. These players won’t single handedly fix the offense, but all it takes is a spark to potentially get our stars hitting again.
On the bright side, we had some solid minor league performances from some of our top prospects today.
Chase DeLauter hit his first AAA Home Run, a ball hit 384 feet with a 103 mph exit velocity.
Chase DeLauter gets his first AAA HR!
— Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) August 24, 2024
That’s 5 home runs for him in his last 10 games. pic.twitter.com/zxklWzwhuB
Milan Tolentino stole home and Parker Messick had yet another solid outing!
Heads up @milantolentino with the steal of home!!! pic.twitter.com/391Qk2qiFn
— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) August 24, 2024
#Guardians 23yr old LHP prospect Parker Messick struckout five Harrisburg batters tonight for Akron allowing a pair of runs over 5.0 innings of work.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) August 24, 2024
Line - 5.0(IP) 5H 2R 2ER 3BB 5SO (88 Pitches 52 Strikes)
Last six starts:
-32.0(IP) 17H 7R 5ER 6BB 40SO 1.41 ERA
2024 Season:… pic.twitter.com/iJl1ocOz1o
Travis Bazzana continues to get comfortable going 2-3 with a walk, and natural catcher Ralphy Velazquez may have had the best catch I’ve ever seen from a LF.
#Guardians 21yr old (2B) prospect Travis Bazzana now 2-for-2 to start tonight's ball game for Lake County with a base hit back up the middle in the 3rd inning at West Michigan. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/FfDiSkpYXE
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) August 23, 2024
Ralphy Velazquez, home run prevention. pic.twitter.com/Aw776Pcoa5
— Justin L. (@JL_Baseball) August 23, 2024
Last but not least: SS Welbyn Francisca continues to prove that he should be considered a top prospect in the organization with three more hits tonight. His batting average is up to .343 with an OPS of .882 as an 18 year old in Lynchburg, very impressive stuff from him.
#Guardians 18yr old switch hitting (SS) prospect Welbyn Francisca collects his 3rd hit of the night in the 9th inning for Lynchburg at Salem.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) August 24, 2024
Francisca ups his AVG to .343 now with the Hillcats. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/H4fzPqj5RZ
