The Cleveland Guardians (20-26), one of the weakest offenses in the league, are set to host the Chicago White Sox (19-29) at Progressive Field on Monday to open a three-game series. The White Sox are playing their first of seven games on the road after wrapping up a productive nine-game homestand (6-3).
They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Royals, taking the finale 5-2 on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Romy Gonzalez was 3 for 3 with a triple, one run, and two RBIs. Luis Robert Jr. added a solo home run.
The Guardians are back home for a six-game homestand after finishing up a tough six-game road trip (1-5). They are coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Mets, ending the series by dropping both games of a doubleheader at Citi Field on Sunday. They followed up a 5-4 loss in the opener with a 2-1 defeat in the finale. Jose Ramirez went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in the second leg.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The White Sox have won two of three in the season series between the AL Central rivals, although they dropped a close one 3-1 in their last meeting on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Nick Sandlin threw 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the win, and Emmanuel Clase earned his 15th save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
RHP Hunter Gaddis (0-1, 6.86 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland. It’s his first appearance of the season against the White Sox. Gaddis made one start against the White Sox in 2022, throwing four innings in an 8-2 home defeat on September 15.
He gave up eight hits and walked one, while striking out three in the loss. In his last appearance on April 22, Gaddis pitched out of the bullpen at home against the Marlins. He threw two scoreless, no-hit innings, striking out one, in the 6-1 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
The Chicago offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .243/.302/.394. Robert Jr. leads the team in OPS at .892.
The center fielder is slashing .269/.326/.566 with 13 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 34 runs over 47 games. Against right-handed pitchers like Gaddis this season, the Sox have a .685 OPS.
Yasmani Grandal is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .818 OPS in 103 at-bats. Cleveland is slashing .228/.300/.343 for the season and averaging 3.6 runs per game, second lowest in the league. Ramirez leads the team with an .843 OPS. The third baseman has six home runs, 25 RBIs, and 25 runs scored with a slash line of .280/.365/.478.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago is 7-16 on the road in 2023, scoring 4.1 runs per game while allowing 5.3 runs. Cleveland has gone 9-12 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 2.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.1. Cleveland is 6-4 in the last 10 games at Progressive Field between the teams with an average scoreline of 3.9-3.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The White Sox are fourth in the AL Central, six games behind the division-leading Twins. The Guardians are third in the AL Central, four games behind the Twins.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Cleveland Guardians (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
