The Cleveland Guardians have announced the starting pitching plan for their series with the Boston Red Sox.
The Cleveland Guardians are getting ready to open a massive three-game series with the Boston Red Sox to start the final week of the regular season.
Cleveland is coming off a sweep of the Athletics, and the team has won five games in a row. This has them sitting in first place of the American League Central by 1.0 game entering this matchup with the Red Sox.
The Guardians are still fighting for playoff positioning, even if they can't hold onto the division lead. Cleveland would be the final wild-card spot in the AL, and they would have a multi-game lead if they were to fall in the division standings.
As for Boston, they enter this series having two straight games, going 4-6 over their last 10 contests overall. The Red Sox just clinched a wild-card spot in the AL, making this series a potential playoff preview.
Guardians vs Red Sox Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, September 22: LHP Parker Messick vs LHP Payton Tolle
Messick will go for the Guardians to open the series, looking for continued results. The left-hander has been awesome for the team this year, sporting a 2.57 ERA over 30 starts.
In his last outing against the Chicago White Sox, Messick went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out eight batters. Messick has electric stuff on the mound, and the Guardians need him once again.
For Boston, Tolle gets the ball, and he's been good this year, posting a 3.02 ERA in 25 starts.
Wednesday, September 23: LHP Foster Griffin vs RHP Sonny Gray
Griffin gets the nod on the second game for Cleveland, and he will be trying to put together a longer outing this time around. The left-hander hasn't gone past the 4th inning in each of his last two starts.
The Guardians are going to need Griffin to set the tone in this game. Since coming to Cleveland at the trade deadline, the lefty owns a 5.79 ERA over eight starts.
Gray will take the mound for the Red Sox, holding a 2.82 ERA over 28 starts this year.
Thursday, September 24: TBD vs LHP Ranger Suarez
The Guardians have not officially announced a starter for the finale. But the team will likely try to position its group for the potential postseason games the following week.
Suarez will go for Boston, putting his 3.27 ERA over 27 starts this season on the line.
How to Watch Guardians vs Red Sox
Tuesday's opener will take place at 3:45 p.m. PT/6:45 p.m. ET from Fenway Park. The game will be broadcast on Guardians.TV, NESN, and in the MLB app.
Wednesday's game will take place at 4:10 p.m. PT/7:10 p.m. ET from Fenway Park. The game will be broadcast on ESPN/ESPN App and in the MLB app.
Thursday's finale will take place at 3:45 p.m. PT/6:45 p.m. ET from Fenway Park. The game will be broadcast on Guardians.TV, NESN, and in the MLB app.
