They need to win a series for a .500 road trip
I’ve been to 23 Major League baseball stadiums, and, for my money, the Guardians will play a series in a top three stadium in the game this weekend when they meet the Pirates. Will the results be as beautiful as the environs?
The Guardians are 9-9 with a -19 run differential, 16th in MLB with a 99 wRC+, 29th in Baserunning Runs Above Average at -2.2, 17th in Defense at -3.3, last in starting pitching SIERA at 4.61, and eighth in 2.99 SIERA. The Pirates are 8-12 with a -18 run differential, 27th in MLB with a 66 wRC+. 28th in Baserunning Runs above average at -2, 19th in Defense at -3.7, 11th in starting pitching SIERA at 3.80, and 25th in bullpen SIERA at 4.05.
By the numbers, both teams look pretty bad. Let’s see if the Guardians can turn that around starting today.
Matchups:
Friday, 6:40PM EDT – Luis Ortiz, RHP, 3.98 SIERA vs. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP 3.59 SIERA
Saturday, 4:05PM EDT – Ben Lively, RHP 4.41 SIERA vs. Paul Skenes, RHP 2.24 SIERA
Sunday, 1:35PM EDT – Logan Allen, LHP, 5.24 SIERA vs. Mitch Keller, RHP, 4.41 SIERA
Analysis:
The Guardians will face three right-handed pitchers, which isn’t ideal. I’d like to see if Angel Martinez is healthy enough after his run-in with a wall in Baltimore if he can get the starts in center over the scuffling Lane Thomas, leaving Thomas free for late-inning pinch-hit appearances against lefty relievers. The Guardians are led by Martinez at 203 wRC+, Austin Hedges at 187 wRC+, Gabriel Arias 141 wRC+, Steven Kwan 140 wRC+, Kyle Manzardo 123 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 123 wRC+, Daniel Schneemann 104 wRC+ and Carlos Santana 103 wRC+. Their pitching will need to control Oneil Cruz at 123 wRC+, Joey Bart at 120 wRC+ and Andrew McCutchen at 100 wRC+.
The key to this series is pretty simple – win the Ortiz revenge game and keep the Logan Allen magic going, because you can’t expect to win a Skenes start. But, it’ll be fascinating to see Skenes do his thing, in any case, and see Lively do his usual David toppling Goliath act. Let’s hope Easter Weekend can see this Guardians’ team rise again in the standings.