With Cleveland’s lineup hampered by the losses of Jose Ramirez and rookie Chase DeLauter to injuries last weekend, the Guardians’ revamped batting order delivered in a big way on Saturday.
Rookie Travis Bazzana and Kyle Manzardo, batting first and second, respectively, went a combined 6-for-8 with four runs and eight RBIs in the Guardians’ 8-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
Cleveland may tinker with its lineup on Sunday afternoon when it plays the decisive contest of the three-game series in Houston.
The Guardians improved to 9-12 with Bazzana atop the order on Saturday, while Manzardo hit second for just the third time this season. DeLauter batted second or third 57 times while Ramirez occupied one of those two spots in 72 starts. Brayan Rocchio and Rhys Hoskins have hit third and cleanup this weekend for the new-look Guardians.
“It’s an ever-evolving conversation,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We think we really like that Bazzana-Manzo-Rocchio-Hos (grouping) versus righties; it might look a little bit different versus lefties.
“It’s difficult. You take your two- and three-hole hitters out of the lineup: How do you maximize the offense? I think the guys have been having really good at-bats.”
Right-hander Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.60 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale for the Guardians.
Cecconi did not factor into the decision of a 2-1 road loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday after allowing one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. He is winless over his last five starts (0-1, 3.46 ERA), with 23 strikeouts across 26 innings, and was 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA over his first six starts this season.
Cecconi is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Astros. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings in the Guardians’ 9-2 loss to them on April 20.
Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (3-6, 4.31 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Sunday.
Teng has lost three consecutive starts and is winless over his last four (0-3, 8.83 ERA). He allowed five runs on six hits — including three home runs — and two walks with a career-high nine strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings in a 9-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers last Monday.
Teng will make his first career start and second appearance against the Guardians. He worked 2 2/3 innings of hitless, scoreless relief with one walk and two strikeouts in the Astros’ 8-5 loss at Cleveland on April 21.
With right-handers Cristian Javier (shoulder), Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) and Ronel Blanco (elbow) all progressing toward reinstatement from the injured list, the Astros soon could have a glut of starting pitching. Right-hander Mike Burrows worked out of the bullpen on Friday but is set to rejoin the rotation next week in Toronto.
Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti continued his June struggles on Saturday and fell to 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA this month. He was the American League Pitcher of the Month in May after going 4-1 with an 0.93 ERA.
“I think he’s still got the same mentality,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Just a few pitches are getting away from him. The pitches are still quality pitches.
“Just probably needs to not leave some stuff in the middle of the plate against certain hitters, but for the most part he … continues to throw really well. Long season, and this stuff happens.”
–Field Level Media
