A late-season surge has sent the Cleveland Guardians to their third straight American League Central title, and a potential opportunity to end the regular season in care-free fashion.
However, the Guardians still have a chance to sweep their final regular-season series from the host Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Cleveland (85-76) has won three straight, nine of its last 10 contests and is 24-10 since Aug. 20. On Saturday, the Guardians got behind 3-0 after one inning, but received two homers apiece from Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio and nine extra-base hits overall to rally for an 11-5 victory.
That win, coupled with the second-place Chicago White Sox’s 9-6 home loss to Colorado on Saturday, secured the Central title for Cleveland, which will receive a bye into the division round of the postseason. The Guardians have won 14 division crowns since 1995.
“We came into this series having a mission,” Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter told Guardians.TV. “This one is special. Never gets old.”
While it’s not known how many regulars will play Sunday for the Guardians, there’s still an opportunity to head into the postseason on a serious surge.
“Everybody’s done their job all year, and they know what they got to do the rest of the year,” Cleveland pitcher Gavin Williams also told Guardians.TV.
Cleveland star Steven Kwan had three hits Saturday, and is 11-for-27 in the last seven games, but could be rested or limited for the finale.
“This is so exciting,” Kwan said. “This is a really fun group. … Could be a special one, for sure.”
Despite no postseason ramifications for this contest, the Guardians will start Parker Messick (12-9, 2.55 ERA) in an apparent opportunity to stay sharp with the team’s extended time off ahead. In 14 starts since July 4, the left-hander owns a 2.19 ERA.
He allowed a run over six solid innings of Cleveland’s 11-1 victory over Kansas City on Aug. 30.
The Royals (68-93), meanwhile, are slated to close the season with starter Daniel Lynch IV (6-6, 4.13 ERA), who is 2-4 with a 7.01 ERA in nine starts since joining the club’s injury-riddled rotation. On Tuesday, the left-hander allowed nine runs and seven hits, including three homers, while also walking three batters, over four innings against the White Sox.
“I still have confidence in myself,” Lynch said. “Everybody has bad starts. I just take away from it being able to move forward and flush it.”
Lynch yielded a two-run homer to Angel Martinez, two other hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings of his start at Cleveland on Aug. 29.
Ravaged by injuries to several key players, especially to their pitching staff, the Royals are mired in a 6-18 rut entering the final day of the regular season. They also have lost all eight of their series in September.
However, rookie catcher Carter Jensen has enjoyed a breakout season. He’s set to finish as Kansas City’s leader in home runs (27) and RBIs (81). With two doubles Saturday, Jensen has posted a major-league rookie record 64 extra-base hits, dating to at least 1947.
“He’s driven. We talk about it all the time,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Jensen, who is batting .338 in 21 September contests. “He works, he’s committed. … He still wants to be better. He’s not satisfied.”
With two RBI doubles Saturday, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone is 12-for-24 in his last six games.
-Field Level Media
