First place in the American League Central is at stake when the host Cleveland Guardians square off against the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a pivotal three-game series on Monday.
Cleveland (76-74) pulled within one-half game of division-leading Chicago after a 9-2 road victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. The Guardians also hold the third and final AL wild-card spot, with a one-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It feels good,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’ve talked about it all along that we can only control what we can do. So we have an opportunity to come home which is very similar to last year. … We know we have a big series starting tomorrow.”
The White Sox (76-73) suffered a 3-1 road setback to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Chicago has dropped five of its last six games and was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in its most recent loss.
“I don’t know how many times the last couple weeks we’ve loaded the bases but haven’t been able to cash in and get that big hit,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “But credit to the guys for continuing to battle and get us big at-bats.”
While the White Sox are looking for offensive consistency, Vogt said the Guardians are hitting their stride as the stretch run arrives. Cleveland slugged its way to a win Sunday with homers from Jo Adell (21st), Steven Kwan (third) and Travis Bazzana (12th). Starting pitcher Tanner Bibee earned the win and pitched into the seventh inning.
“Our starting pitching and bullpen have been our staples all year, that’s what keeps us in games and wins games,” Vogt said. “But I really like the way the offense is starting to click. I feel like we are playing really good baseball at a good time. We just have to keep it rolling.”
Venable said he felt his Chicago club was buoyed by Randal Grichuk’s two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 6-5 comeback win against the Cardinals that helped snap a four-game losing streak.
The White Sox hope to recapture some of that positivity against the Guardians.
“The energy carried over, the vibe in the dugout before the game, during the game and through the first three innings was outstanding,” Venable said.
Left-hander Sean Newcomb (2-4, 2.77 ERA) is scheduled to start for the White Sox after lefty Davis Martin (9-7, 4.05) was pushed to Tuesday’s game. Newcomb has made 54 appearances, including five starts, in 84 1/3 innings and has four saves this season.
He is 0-1 with two saves, a 0.87 ERA, 13 strikeouts and five walks in 10 1/3 innings over eight relief appearances against Cleveland.
The Guardians will counter with Gavin Williams (13-7, 3.78), who received a no-decision in a 3-2, 10-inning home win over the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 6. Williams surrendered two runs on four hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. The Guardians have won his last four starts.
Williams is 1-1 in six starts against Chicago with a 4.91 ERA. He has registered 14 walks and 35 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
