The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians are set to conclude their pivotal four-game series on Wednesday in Cleveland. The Guardians have maintained the AL Central Division lead for much of the season, but the Royals are making a notable push, closing in on the top position. The afternoon’s pitching duel features Royals’ right-hander Michael Wacha (11-6, 3.32 ERA) against Guardians’ right-hander Tanner Bibee (10-6, 3.46 ERA). Fans can expect the first pitch at 1:10 PM EST.
Royals Rely on Experienced Arm Wacha
The Kansas City Royals have surged to become one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball since the All-Star break, currently sitting in a wildcard spot and closely trailing the Guardians. After overcoming a brief setback against the Philadelphia Phillies, where they lost two out of three games, the Royals have bounced back impressively, winning six consecutive games and seven of their last ten. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has emerged as a standout player in the American League, vying for the title of best player behind Aaron Judge with his league-leading batting average. Following a doubleheader sweep against the Guardians on Monday, the Royals are now just one game behind in the standings.
*This article was written before the completion of Tuesday night’s game.
The Royals have entrusted veteran right-hander Michael Wacha to take the mound in the series finale. Wacha, boasting an 11-6 record and a 3.32 ERA over 23 starts, has demonstrated reliability with 13 quality starts this season. His performance has included 121 hits allowed in 133 innings, with 14 home runs surrendered. Wacha’s season also features 38 walks and 113 strikeouts. In his most recent outing, he pitched six innings, allowing six hits and two runs in a 7-4 victory against the Phillies, striking out five batters in the process.
Key Injuries: RP Josh Taylor, RP John Schreiber, RP Christian Chamberlain, and RP Dan Altavilla are unavailable.
Guardians Count on Steady Bibee
The Cleveland Guardians have maintained a strong grip on the AL Central Division for most of the season, but they face a challenging final stretch with 30 games remaining. Recently, the Guardians have encountered difficulties, posting a 4-6 record over their last ten games leading into this series. Their struggles were highlighted by a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Royals on Monday, reducing their once-comfortable division lead to just one game.
In the series finale, the Guardians will hand the ball to Tanner Bibee, one of their most dependable pitchers this season. Bibee has a 10-6 record across 25 starts, with eight of those being quality starts. His 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP demonstrate his ability to manage games effectively, allowing 16 home runs and 119 hits in 138 innings pitched. Bibee has also recorded 150 strikeouts while walking 33. In his last appearance, he pitched 5.2 innings against the Rangers, allowing eight hits and four runs, while striking out six batters in a 5-3 loss.
Key Injuries: 1B Micah Pries, SP Carlos Carrasco, RP Nic Enright, SP Alex Cobb, and RP Sam Hentges are sidelined.
Analysis and Predictions for Royals vs. Guardians
Bibee has proven to be a reliable option for the Guardians this season, offering consistency on the mound. He has shown significant improvement in limiting base runners, evidenced by his 150 strikeouts and respectable WHIP of 1.10. The Guardians have triumphed in three of his last five starts, relying on his ability to pitch deep into games and hand the ball over to their league-leading bullpen. Bibee holds a career record of 1-0 against the Royals, with an impressive 2.81 ERA in three starts, including two this season. Notably, Cleveland excels in day games, posting a 30-19 record this season. Expect Bibee to guide the Guardians into the latter innings, setting the stage for a potential victory in the series finale.
