The Cleveland Guardians can take over the AL Central today, but will they?
The Cleveland Guardians enter Monday's game with a chance to overtake the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central.
Cleveland sits only 0.5 games behind the White Sox for the division lead, and the two teams are getting ready to open a three-game series. This matchup could have large ramifications for the outcome of the division, offering each team a chance to make a statement.
Coming into the series, the Guardians are playing a little better. Cleveland is coming off a series against the Minnesota Twins that saw them win two of three games, helping to erase the White Sox's lead.
Chicago, on the other hand, has lost five of six games coming into this contest. After an excellent start to the year, the White Sox have started to collapse as the schedule gets tighter.
The Guardians hold the home-field advantage in the series as well, giving them a good chance to over Chicago. And the team will be turning to right-hander Gavin Williams to help set the tone in the opener.
Williams has recorded a 3.78 ERA in 29 starts this season for the Guardians. But he has been electric over his last few outings.
The right-hander has registered at least 11 strikeouts in three of his past four starts. Williams has the punch out going his way right now, and this could be massive entering this matchup with the White Sox.
But Cleveland will need Williams to put together a strong start, going deep into the game. The Guardians bullpen has been good this month, but they have pitched a lot, recording 56.1 innings.
During this time, they rank second in bullpen ERA, coming in at 2.24. But the Guardians know that this isn't sustainable, especially right before the playoffs.
So, over the next few games, if the starting pitchers can help ease the workload of the Guardians' bullpen, it could help greatly. Over his last two starts, Williams has pitched through at least the 6th inning, which would be massive for Cleveland.
Williams has delivered all season for the Guardians when they needed him most, and now the team is calling on him again with the division hanging in the balance. The right-hander will look to shutdown the White Sox offense, giving Cleveland a good chance to take the win.
This is Cleveland's chance to do some damage while building a lead in the AL Central for themselves. But only time will tell if they can take advantage.
