Series Preview: Rays at Guardians
Home again, home again, jiggity-jig
The Guardians and Rays will meet for a four game series beginning tonight in Cleveland.
The Rays are 71-75 with a -62 run differential, a rare losing season ahead for a Tampa Bay franchise that has had a very successful decade, 21st in team wRC+ at 96, sixth in baserunning runs above average at 8.6, twelfth in defensive fWAR at -11.6, 19th in starting pitching FIP at 4.19, and 25th in bullpen FIP at 4.28.
The Guardians are 84-62 with a +79 run differential, first in the AL Central and the AL at the moment after sweeping what may be the worst team in MLB history, 14th in team wRC+ at 100 wRC+, 18th in baserunning runs above average at -1.7, third in defensive fWAR at 14.8, 26th in starting pitching FIP at 4.66, and first in bullpen FIP at 3.34.
Match-ups:
Game One: Ryan Pepiot, RHP (4.18 FIP) vs. Gavin Williams, RHP (3.79 FIP), Thursday, 7:15PM EST
Game Two: Zack Littell, RHP (4.16 FIP) vs. Tanner Bibee, RHP (3.62 FIP), Friday, 7:10PM EST
Game Three: TBD (Tyler Alexander, LHP, 5.52 FIP) vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP (5.32 FIP), Saturday, 6:10PM EST
Game Four: Taj Bradley, RHP (4.33 FIP) vs. Ben Lively, RHP (4.78 FIP), Sunday, 1:40PM EST
Analysis: Every series feels so big, now, but handling the Rays series would make the upcoming Twins series a lot less pressurized. We will see what Yandy Diaz, Richie Palacios and Junior Caminero can do in the way of a revenge tour, OR will Kyle Manzardo exact his vengeance? The Guardians will need to handle Brandon Lowe 128, Diaz 119, Palacios 104 wRC+, and Caminero 104 wRC+ in a less than potent Rays offense. It’ll also be key to get into the Rays bullpen early AND for Williams and Bibee to give the team some length because of how thin the Guardians’ relief corps is stretched right now.
Hopefully, Guardians fans will show up to support this division leader and the team will reward them with a successful weekend series!