September 14, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagen Images The Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros may meet in this year’s postseason, but for now, the two division winners aim to finish the regular season strong when they begin a three-game series in Cleveland on Friday.
Cleveland (92-67) won its second American League Central title in three years and earned a first-round bye in the postseason. Houston (86-73) captured its fourth consecutive AL West crown and will host a best-of-three wild-card series starting next Tuesday.
Rookie left-hander Joey Cantillo (2-3, 4.63 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Guardians on Friday. This would be his ninth career appearance and eighth start since his debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 28. They have never faced the Astros.
Cantillo was not a factor in a 3–2 decision win over the Minnesota Twins on September 19 after allowing two runs on three hits (one earned) and three walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He had won his previous two starts, and allowed one run in 12 innings over that span.
Cantillo’s start came after first-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt held a bullpen game to defeat the visiting Cincinnati Reds, 5–2, on Wednesday.
Vogt validated his decision when seven relievers combined to allow one earned run on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
The Guardians’ league-low 2.59 bullpen ERA would be tied with the Seattle Mariners for the lowest in a season since 2014. Cleveland’s bullpen boasts the fewest walks and hits per inning pitched (1.04), fewest home runs per nine innings pitched (0.73) and the second-highest strikeout percentage (26.1).
Closer Emmanuel Klaas and his franchise-record 47 saves have been notable, but the entire bullpen has been strong.
“They’ve been steady for us all year,” Vogt said. “They’re throwing the ball great.
“We couldn’t ask for anything more than what this bullpen has done for us this year. And again, we demonstrated how great they were.”
As far as Houston is concerned, right-hander Ronel Blanco (12-6, 2.88) has the starting assignment for the series opener.
Blanco allowed two runs and two walks on seven hits with nine strikeouts in six innings in a 10-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. He had played 13 scoreless innings in his last three matches. Blanco is 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA and .647 opponent OPS this month.
In his only career appearance against the Guardians, Blanco allowed two runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in four innings. They did not take into account the decision in a 3–2 home win on August 2, 2023.
The Astros’ 8-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday marked left-hander Yusei Kikuchi’s first time on the mound since his trade deadline acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29.
Kikuchi made his third consecutive quality start, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in six innings. In 10 starts with Houston, Kikuchi is 5–1 with a 2.70 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 60 innings.
With Houston locked up as the No. 3 seed for the postseason, Kikuchi has provided the rotation depth the Astros were desperate for with an eye on another postseason push.
Houston manager Joe Espada said of Kikuchi, “We needed somebody who could give us innings and put us in position to score runs.” “And he did just that.”
–Field Level Media