A surprisingly important weekend
The Guardians head to Kansas City for a quick trip, desperately in need of another series win to show the Cleveland front office that they should not sell ahead of the trade deadline.
The Guardians are 51-51 with a -35 run differential, 26th in MLB with an 88 team wRC+, tenth in Baserunning Runs Above Average at 2.7, sixth in Defense at 6.6, 25th in starting pitcher SIERA at 4.36, and 12th in bullpen SIERA at 3.73.
The Royals are 50-53 with a -22 run differential, 27th in MLB with a 85 team wRC+, 26th in Baserunning Runs Above Average at -5.2, 16th in Defense at -11.7, sixth in starting pitcher SIERA at 3.94, and 22nd in bullpen SIERA at 3.92.
IF the Guardians starting rotation can continue their recent stretch of excellence, the Guardians are a better team than the Royals. If the Guardians starters have an uneven weekend… watch out.
Matchups:
Game one, Friday, 8:10PM EDT: Gavin Williams, RHP vs. Michael Wacha, RHP
Game two, Saturday, 7:15PM EDT: Tanner Bibee, RHP vs. Kris Bubic, LHP
Game three, Sunday, 2:10PM EDT: Joey Cantillo, LHP vs. Noah Cameron, LHP
With two lefties lined up for the Royals, let’s hope David Fry. Carlos Santana and Johnathan Rodríguez are ready to provide something of worth at the plate this series.
The Guardians are led by Jose Ramirez at 145 wRC+, Steven Kwan at 111 wRC+ and Kyle Manzardo at 106 wRC+. Angel Martinez is up to 91 wRC+ and has had a very good month of July.
The Royals leading hitters this season have been Bobby Witt Jr at 122 wRC+, Maikel Garcia at 116 wRC+, Vinnie Pasquantino at 110 wRC+ and Salvador Perez at 105 wRC+.
Don’t let Bobby Witt beat you, make the starters work and get into their bullpen as soon as possible, and play good defense and the Guardians should be able to emerge from Kansas City with a series win, and then need to come home and sweep the Rockies to continue to try to crawl out of the June-July hole they have dug for themselves, as July 31st and the MLB trade deadline approaches.