Two teams with separate hills to climb in their pursuit of the postseason will open a three-game series on Monday night when the Cleveland Guardians visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Arizona’s Zac Gallen (9-12, 5.31 ERA) is expected to oppose Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (7-4, 3.38) in a battle of right-handers on Monday.
The Guardians have been among the hottest teams in the American League since July 7, going 23-12, but they were swept over the weekend at home by Atlanta. Cleveland resides 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the race for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
“Go get ’em tomorrow,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It was a frustrating weekend for all of us. We know we need to play better. We know we need to continue to work and continue to fight. So let’s get right back out there and let’s get back in the win column and get on another run.”
The Diamondbacks had won six of seven games before losing the final three contests of a four-game set in Colorado. They trail the New York Mets by 6 1/2 games for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
“We’re frustrated,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Nobody’s happy with what happened out there. We have to figure it out. As fast as you get into things, you get out of it. We can reverse it and get back in it.
“We’re not going to climb back into this race in one series at Coors Field. We know that. But I want us to play good baseball.”
Gallen has been appreciably better since the July 31 trade deadline, going 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings. After leading the league in walks in the first half of the season, he has given up only 10 in his last eight starts.
“You talk about determination and maybe like a little chip on his shoulder,” Lovullo said. “He doesn’t want to have the type of year that is going to be anything close to average.
“He’s got a championship mentality, and I think he just grew tired of pitching the way that he was. He drew a line in the sand and said, ‘This is my time and I’m going to go out there and start to pitch more like myself.’ And it’s translated.”
Gallen is 2-0 with a 4.12 ERA in three career starts against Cleveland. Jose Ramirez is 5-for-9 with a homer and three RBIs against him, and Steven Kwan is 4-for-9 with a double and a triple.
Williams took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of the Guardians’ 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Aug. 6 before Juan Soto homered. Williams left with two outs in the inning after throwing a career-high 126 pitches.
His streak of four quality starts ended in his most recent outing, when he lasted three innings in a 13-4 home loss to Miami on Wednesday. Williams gave up four runs on five hits, including two homers.
“The whole body was a little fatigued,” he said. “But it’s still no excuse. No matter what, I should have done better than what I did.”
Williams, who leads the majors with 67 walks, has yet to face the Diamondbacks in his career.
–Field Level Media
