The Cleveland Guardians’ most significant trade deadline acquisition will be on the mound for their series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
Guardians left-hander Foster Griffin (13-4, 3.25 ERA) takes on Giants lefty Carson Whisenhunt (3-3, 6.11) in an interleague matchup on Tuesday night.
National League All-Star Griffin was acquired from the Washington Nationals on Aug. 3 in exchange for four non-elite prospects, but hasn’t made the impact Cleveland has hoped for in his first two starts.
Griffin has only logged nine innings while posting a 1-1 record and 6.00 ERA, being rocked for 11 hits and eight total runs against the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers.
“I think with Foster, he’s still settling in,” Cleveland baseball operations president Chris Antonetti said. “We saw some progress from start one to start two, and he’s now developed a comfort level with our catchers and our pitching teams.”
Griffin pitched at San Francisco earlier this season, allowing one run over six innings in a no-decision for the Nationals on June 10. It was his first career appearance against the Giants.
The Guardians also brought in first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds and outfielder Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels, both of whom have nicely settled into their roles.
Cleveland’s negative momentum, however, has rolled on as it continues to fall down the American League standings.
After leading the AL Central for months, the Guardians have plummeted six games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox and 1 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot by losing 19 of their 28 games since the All-Star break. They also haven’t won a series at home since June 26-28 against the Seattle Mariners.
“It’s not really much of a secret that it’s been rough really,” Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee said. “I don’t even know how many games back we are of the final wild-card berth, but at the same time, it’s a lot of baseball to be had.
“And I mean, the fact that it’s swung so far in one direction, it’s got to swing back in the other.”
The Giants’ postseason aspirations were squashed by early summer as they own the second-worst record in the NL, along with the fewest road wins among NL team with 22 (22-40).
San Francisco wrapped up its homestand Sunday with another unsightly loss, 13-7 to the Colorado Rockies. The pitching staff issued 10 walks, eight of whom came around to score, and left manager Tony Vitello steaming.
“It had more of the feel of a junior college game, as opposed to a big league game with how some of the things transpired,” the outspoken first-year manager said. “And I was a JUCO guy, so I’m not disrespecting JUCOs.”
Vitello also was displeased with how the tying run scored in the sixth inning as rookie catcher Drew Cavanaugh couldn’t pick up a wild pitch from JT Brubaker that was mere inches below the plate. Zac Veen raced home, and the Rockies were off and running.
“It’s obviously not what you want,” Cavanaugh lamented. “I’ve got to get the ball and do everything I can to help the team win.”
Whisenhunt snapped a three-start losing streak in his last outing, tossing 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 over the Houston Astros last Tuesday. He hasn’t pitched against Cleveland, but is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three career starts against AL foes.
–Field Level Media
