While the Boston Red Sox have locked up a Wild Card spot behind the New York Yankees in the loaded AL East, this game is still significant for the Guardians. Not that the Guardians are in real jeopardy of missing the playoffs, but this game does matter for their seeding, as they still own a one-game lead over the White Sox atop the AL Central.
We’re expecting to see Cleveland’s Daniel Espino against Boston’s Ranger Suarez at the start of tonight’s game at Fenway Park, but we should see Joey Cantillo get a lion’s share of the innings behind the opener. Last week, Espino allowed a three-run homer in the top of the first inning against the Athletics, marking the first time he surrendered multiple runs in an appearance since June 19. It ended up not costing the Guardians, though, as Cantillo came in and pumped six scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just three baserunners. Don’t forget about Cade Smith, either. Cleveland’s closer is on a roll with nine saves and three wins in his last 14 appearances, and he has surrendered just three earned runs in his last 34 innings since the beginning of July.
Suarez has been nails, too. He pitched into the sixth inning in all three September starts, while rocking a 0.92 ERA, allowing just two earned runs in 19.2 innings and striking out 16 along the way. He hasn’t seen this lineup since May, when he allowed four earned runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings, though he struck out 10 in that outing. Coming into this contest, Suarez has four wins and one loss in his last six outings.
Suarez is in fine form, but I question how long he will throw with an imminent playoff appearance on deck. Boston seems to be cruising in neutral as a whole, as this offense has tallied more than one run just once in its last four games and hasn’t plated more than four runs since September 12. Give me the Guardians here, who should have a bit more motivation to close the door on the division race.
Guardians vs Red Sox prediction: Cleveland Guardians ML (+112) at the time of publishing. Playable to -110.
