Guardians Aim to Clinch Series Win Against Rays

The Cleveland Guardians, who are currently leading the American League Central, are set to wrap up their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida. Ben Lively, the Guardians’ right-hander, will take the mound on Sunday afternoon, hoping to notch his ninth win of the season.

Pitching Matchup Preview

Lively (8-4, 3.59 ERA) has been a solid performer, allowing more than three runs in just two of his 15 starts this season. His only previous start against Tampa Bay was back in 2018 when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he gave up three runs in four innings. The Rays will counter with right-hander Ryan Pepiot (5-5, 4.20 ERA), aiming to help Tampa Bay clinch their seventh series win in the last eight attempts. A win would also bring the Rays to a .500 record as they head into the All-Star break.

Guardians’ Recent Triumph

Cleveland broke a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory on Saturday, thanks to a clutch performance by rookie Jhonkensy Noel. Noel hit a game-changing two-run, pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. Since being called up from Triple-A Columbus on June 26, Noel has hit four homers in just 35 at-bats.

“Big Christmas comes through again,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said, referring to Noel by his nickname. “Since he’s come up, his at-bat quality has been off the charts. And when he does get his pitch, he doesn’t miss it.”

Second baseman Andres Gimenez, who contributed with two hits and an RBI, praised Noel’s impact: “That was electric, coming off the bench to hit that ball.”

Rays’ Strategic Challenges

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash stood by his decision to bring in left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger to face the right-handed Noel, despite the outcome. “Cleav has done such a good job for us basically all season long,” Cash said. “Got ahead of him and then Noel saw that one good one and jumped all over it for the biggest hit of the day.”

The Rays had eight hits, including a triple and two doubles, but struggled significantly with runners in scoring position, finishing 0-for-11 in such situations during Saturday’s game. This has been a recurring issue, as the team went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position in Friday’s 2-0 win and just 8-for-72 over their last eight games.

Broader Context and Impact

Cleveland’s road victory, their third in the last 11 tries, ensures they will enter the All-Star break with the best record in the American League, bolstered by Baltimore’s 5-1 loss to the New York Yankees. This context underscores the importance of maintaining momentum as the season progresses.

Tampa Bay, despite their recent struggles with clutch hitting, remains a formidable opponent. The series opener saw a standout performance from pitcher Taj Bradley, who delivered seven shutout innings. As the Rays look to bounce back and correct their trend of missed opportunities, Cash emphasized the need for timely hitting: “We’ve got to kind of kick that trend. You feel it in the dugout, you feel it throughout the game. We’re capable of getting big hits. They’re not coming right now. Hopefully we can reset that a little bit tomorrow heading into the break.”

Conclusion

The rubber game between the Guardians and Rays promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series. With Lively and Pepiot on the mound, both teams will be looking to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses. As Cleveland aims to solidify their top standing in the AL and Tampa Bay seeks to end the first half of the season on a high note, fans can expect a thrilling contest.