Half a game, three games to settle it
Cleveland trails Chicago by half a game in the American League Central. The two meet today in Cleveland to open a three-game series that could hand the division to either of them.
The Guardians arrive at 76-74 after beating the Minnesota Twins 9-2 on the road Sunday. They also hold the third and final American League wild-card spot, one game clear of Toronto.
The White Sox arrive at 76-73 and going backwards. They lost 3-1 at St. Louis on Sunday, a fifth defeat in six games, and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
“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.”
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Cleveland found its bats at the right moment
Sunday’s win in Minnesota came off the barrel. Jo Adell hit his 21st home run, Steven Kwan his third, Travis Bazzana his 12th. Tanner Bibee took the win and worked into the seventh.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has leaned on his arms all season. He thinks the rest of the roster is catching up.
“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.”
Venable wants the same thing from a smaller sample. Randal Grichuk’s two-out, two-run homer in the ninth on Saturday turned a losing game into a 6-5 win over the Cardinals and snapped a four-game skid. “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.
Newcomb draws a rare start
Chicago pushed Davis Martin (9-7, 4.05) to Tuesday and hands the opener to left-hander Sean Newcomb (2-4, 2.77). Newcomb has made 54 appearances this season, only five of them starts, across 84 1/3 innings with four saves. He has handled Cleveland out of the bullpen: eight outings, 10 1/3 innings, a 0.87 ERA, 13 strikeouts and five walks.
Gavin Williams (13-7, 3.78) goes for Cleveland. He took a no-decision in a 3-2, 10-inning win over Detroit on Sept. 6, giving up two runs on four hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. The Guardians have won each of his last four starts. Against Chicago he is 1-1 in six starts with a 4.91 ERA.
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