Just what the doctor ordered! …for the Astros, that is
The Cleveland Guardians are 0-10 in their last ten games, and the Astros are 8-2 in their last ten. Uh… something’s gotta give, right?
The Guardians are 40-48 with a -59 run differential, 26th in MLB with an 85 wRC+, 13th in baserunning runs above average at -0.3, sixth in Defense at +5, 26th in starting pitcher SIERA at 4.40, and 13th in bullpen SIERA at 3.72.
The Astros are 55-35 with a +71 run differential, 8th in MLB with a 108 wRC+, 22nd in baserunning runs above average at -2.9, 13th in Defense at -13.1, second in starting pitching SIERA at 3.61, and first in bullpen SIERA at 3.09.
Welp… the Guardians are better than the Astros at running the bases and at playing defense. So, Houston you have a problem in this team! (No, no, you don’t).
Matchups:
Game One, Monday, 8:10PM, Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.06 SIERA vs. Colton Gordon, LHP, 3.77 SIERA
Game Two, Tuesday, 8:10PM, Joey Cantillo, LHP 3.39 SIERA vs. Hunter Brown, RHP, 2.82 SIERA
Game Three, Wednesday, 8:10PM, Slade Cecconi, RHP, 3.99 SIERA vs. Brandon Walter, LHP, 2.98 SIERA
Probably just to tick me off, this is the second year in a row MLB has scheduled the Guardians for an evening game in Houston on a getaway day for Cleveland, which is ridiculous.
Two left-handed starters and Hunter Brown who is the second-best pitcher in baseball right now – goodie! Wonder if David Fry will awaken from his hibernation. Safe to assume we will be seeing more of “lefty-masher” Johnathan Rodriguez and no Chase DeLauter debut this series. Awesome.
The Guardians have two above average hitters – Jose Ramirez at 133 wRC+ and Steven Kwan at 121 wRC+. Jose is mired in a slump since Kevin Gausman (may he have incurable insomnia and a sleep paralysis demon who looks like the weird slug guy from Dune) hit him in the arm, so, hopefully, this will be the series he snaps out of it. Kwan had a great finale against the Tigers and looks to continue it.
The Astros have Jeremy Pena 146 wRC+, Isaac Parades 134 wRC+, Cam Smith 124 wRC+, Jake Myers 122 wRC+, Jose Altuve 119 wRC+ and Victor Caratini 102 wRC+.
Good luck and godspeed, Guardians fans.