Tampa Bay @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2024 ) Tampa Bay 3, Cleveland 1
Left-hander Joey Cantillo should have plenty of confidence following the best start of his young major league career.
That could prove important as he looks to help the Cleveland Guardians avoid a third straight defeat and losing a home series to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday evening.
After going 0-3 with an 8.47 ERA in his first four MLB starts since debuting on July 28, Cantillo (1-3, 5.96 ERA) delivered one of the most memorable outings all season for the American League Central-leading Guardians.
On Monday, Cantillo threw 6 2/3 perfect innings before allowing a hit against the lowly Chicago White Sox. When his night had ended, he'd yielded one other hit, a run and struck out 10 without a walk over seven splendid innings during Cleveland's 5-3 victory.
"That was so fun. That was special," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.
Cantillo's introduction to the majors has been a back-and-forth journey between the minors and the big club. However, things seemed to click earlier this week, and could set the table for a strong finish as Cantillo looks to be a factor for the Guardians the rest of the regular season and possibly in the playoffs.
"We know how important it is to get that win, a team win," he said.
"It's like OK, understand where the fastball needs to go and make those adjustments and trust in your catchers and do those things and just attack and trust your stuff and go at them."
Cleveland (84-64) totaled 16 runs while sweeping that three-game set at Chicago. However, the Guardians have combined for only three runs and nine hits while losing the first two contests of this four-game set against the Rays (73-75), who entered the series after losing all three at Philadelphia to open the week.
The Guardians are batting .174 while totaling just seven runs in going 1-4 against the Rays this year.
"Coming into the season, we look at this trip and knew each of these teams (Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland) would be in the postseason hunt," Tampa Bay's Josh Lowe told the club's official website.
"We've been playing competitive baseball lately."
Logan Driscoll hit a two-run shot for the first homer of his career in the Rays' 3-1 victory on Friday. Jonathan Aranda, who also went deep Friday, is batting .318 with two home runs, three doubles and three RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
According to Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash, Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 2.79 ERA) is slated to start Saturday in what could be another opener's role for the right-hander. Rasmussen, who made his season debut on Aug. 7 following elbow surgery, has made three previous starts over 11 appearances in 2024.
He's posted a 9.64 ERA in three career games vs. Cleveland, but none have come since 2021.
Guardians star Jose Ramirez is 1-for-2 all-time against Rasmussen. Ramirez had a double on Friday to extend his hitting streak to six games. However, he's batting just .182 his last 11 regular-season games against the Rays.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's Christopher Morel could miss this game after he exited Friday's contest with Achilles discomfort.
--Field Level Media