The Cleveland Guardians are set to conclude their three-game series against the struggling Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon in the Windy City. With fewer than twenty games remaining in the regular season, the Guardians sit atop the AL Central Division. Meanwhile, the White Sox are on track to potentially record the most losses in a single MLB season. The matchup on the mound will feature Guardians’ left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd (2-1, 2.20 ERA) facing off against White Sox right-hander Davis Martin (0-3, 3.29 ERA). Fans can expect the first pitch at 2:10 PM EST.
Cleveland Seeks Division Title with Boyd
The Cleveland Guardians are closing in on their second AL Central Division title in three years as the season winds down. They currently hold a four-game lead in the loss column over the Kansas City Royals. Despite a recent slump where they dropped three of five games, the Guardians maintain a strong position for the second seed in the AL Playoffs. In Tuesday’s game, Cleveland’s starter Ben Lively left early due to a line drive hitting his thigh, but five relievers combined to keep the White Sox at bay, leading to a second consecutive victory. Lane Thomas’ impressive performance, including a home run and three RBIs, bolstered the team’s efforts.
For the final game of the series, the Guardians will rely on Matthew Boyd. Boyd has made five starts this season, posting a 2-1 record with an impressive 2.20 ERA and a WHIP of 0.77. He has limited opponents to just 17 hits over 28.2 innings, striking out 26 batters while allowing only three home runs. In his most recent appearance, Boyd delivered a stellar performance against the Dodgers, allowing only one run on three hits over six innings.
Key Injuries: 1B Micah Pries, SP Carlos Carrasco, RP Nic Enright, SP Alex Cobb, and RP Sam Hentges are sidelined.
White Sox Depend on Martin
The Chicago White Sox are trudging through what could become one of the most challenging seasons in Major League Baseball history. With 112 losses recorded before Tuesday’s game, they are on pace to potentially break the record for the most losses in a single season. In the second game of the series, the White Sox suffered their 113th defeat, with starter Jonathan Cannon performing well but unable to secure a win due to the team’s lackluster offense.
Hoping to avoid further humiliation, the White Sox will send young right-hander Davis Martin to the mound on Wednesday. Martin, who is 0-3 with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in seven games, has shown flashes of promise with two quality starts this year. He has surrendered 34 hits across 38.1 innings while striking out 35 batters, but he has also allowed four home runs. In his previous outing against the Red Sox, Martin pitched well, yielding only one run on three hits over six innings, yet ended up with the loss.
Key Injuries: C Edgar Quero, RP Lane Ramsey, RP Steve Wilson, RP Jordan Leasure, and 3B Yoan Moncada are out.
Betting Insights for Guardians vs. White Sox
The Guardians have several objectives in the closing weeks of the season, and winning against the White Sox on Wednesday is a top priority. The White Sox’s struggles have been evident as they approach 90 games below .500. Although Davis Martin has shown potential on the mound, the team has lost all five of his recent starts. In contrast, Matthew Boyd has been a solid addition to the Guardians’ rotation, contributing to their success in four of his five starts since joining the team. Surprisingly, the Guardians have only a narrow edge of 6-5 in their head-to-head matchups against the White Sox this season. Cleveland aims to secure a victory on Wednesday, bringing them one step closer to clinching the AL Central Division title.
