Companies seeking workplace efficiency tips may want to check out the Cleveland Guardians, who have become experts on the topic with their play over the past week.
Cleveland (74-70) has won five straight games heading into a matchup against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday evening in Game 3 of a four-game series.
The Guardians clinched the season series over the Royals (73-72) with a 2-0 win on Tuesday in a game that took just 1 hour and 58 minutes to complete.
One night after Slade Cecconi took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, Joey Cantillo allowed four hits with no walks and five strikeouts over a career-best eight-plus innings on Tuesday.
“That was Pitching 101 from Joey Cantillo tonight,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “That was a lot of fun to watch.”
Jose Ramirez homered and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle for Cleveland, which is 2 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League.
The Royals have lost three games in a row to fall four games behind Seattle. They’ve scored a total of three runs during their skid.
“We’ve lost two games in a row before, and it’s a four-game series,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We have every opportunity to right the ship tomorrow. So I have no doubt these guys are going to be ready to compete.”
Royals infielder Jonathan India returned from the 10-day injured list and had two hits in Tuesday’s loss, while shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-for-4 after missing three games with lower back spasms.
Kansas City will look to regroup against Cleveland left-hander Logan Allen (7-11, 4.46 ERA) on Wednesday.
Allen’s winless drought continued last Thursday, when he gave up four runs (three earned) over five-plus innings in a no-decision against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cleveland lost 4-2.
The 27-year-old Allen is seeking his first victory since July 29, when he allowed two runs over seven frames in a 10-4 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Witt is 7-for-12 (.583) with two doubles against Allen, who is 0-4 with a 6.26 ERA in five career starts vs. Kansas City.
Kansas City will use right-hander Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.57 ERA) as the opener after scheduled starter Michael Wacha was placed on the seven-day concussion list Tuesday.
“(Wacha) had an off-field accident that resulted in a concussion,” Quatraro said. “Nothing overly serious, we don’t think. But it’s something that’s going to keep him from pitching a minimum of seven days.”
Bowlan, 28, is set to make his first start of the season. He has not allowed a run in his last eight relief appearances covering 10 2/3 innings.
He has a 5.40 ERA without a decision in two career encounters vs. Cleveland. He will face a Guardians lineup that has received a boost from infielder Brayan Rocchio, who rejoined the team on July 1 after being optioned to the minors on May 12.
Rocchio is batting .273 (44-for-161) with three homers and 28 RBIs since the All-Star break.
“When I was up here the first time, I was trying to get five hits in every at-bat and play at a superstar level on defense,” Rocchio said. “I realized I had to tone it down, adjust and simplify what I wanted to do on the field.”
–Field Level Media
