Guardians vs White Sox Preview: Can Cleveland Stay In Playoff Hunt?

The Guardians Will Be Active at MLB Trade Deadline

July 27, 2023 104 4 minutes readMLB Picks & Parlays

Guardians vs White Sox Preview: Can Cleveland Stay In The Playoff Hunt? — Ron Schwane/Getty Images/AFP

Over the weekend, the Cleveland Guardians will take on the Chicago White Sox in an AL Central four-game series. The Guardians are two games out of the AL Central and are still competing for a playoff spot heading into the MLB Trade Deadline. But that didn’t stop the Guardians from making a deal nearly a week away from the deadline.

The Guardians recently put ace pitcher Shane Bieber on the 60-Day Injured List. He’s not expected to return to the mound with an elbow injury. Therefore, the Guardians needed to shore up their pitching depth.

Cleveland sent Amed Rosario to the Dodgers in exchange for Noah Syndergaard. This was a deal between two players underperforming this season. Rosario’s exit will open up more playing time for Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias.

The Guardians are hopeful that Freeman and Arias will perform at a high level in the second half of the MLB schedule.

Meanwhile, the White Sox began their selling before the deadline. Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez are headed to the Los Angeles Angels for two of Los Angeles’ best prospects.

Let’s take a look at our Guardians vs White Sox preview for the AL Central weekend series.

Is Cleveland Selling?

The Guardians traded Amed Rosario to the Dodgers for starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard. But this doesn’t mean that the Guardians are selling.

As suggested earlier, the Guardians wanted to give playing time to younger assets. They needed a starter to take Bieber’s spot and limit innings for their younger starters like Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee.

Syndergaard was on a rehab assignment with the Dodgers in triple-A and should be available for the Guardians in the next week or two. It’s unclear if he’ll pitch for the Guardians in this upcoming series.

What Happened to Chicago?

The White Sox had solid expectations coming into the season. The pitching staff felt loaded, with starters like Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, and Michael Kopech.

Meanwhile, the offense was supposed to break out, with Luis Robert leading the charge. Robert has done well. However, the rest of the offense hasn’t, and the pitching has been inconsistent.

The MLB standings by division show that the AL Central has been dreadful. The White Sox aren’t even the worst team in that division, thanks to the Royals.

The typical lineup for the White Sox has hit a .127 ISO and wOBA of .281 against righties over the last month. The White Sox will likely face at least three righties over the weekend.

Game 1

Tanner Bibee vs. Dylan Cease
Thursday, 8:10 p.m. ET

Tanner Bibee will get the start for the Guardians in Game 1 of the four-game series. Bibee has held his last 93 batters to a .060 ISO and wOBA of .222. He’s also struck out 29% of batters in the previous month. He has adapted at the Major League level this season.

On the other hand, Dylan Cease has struck out over 31% of batters in the last month for the White Sox. He’s struggled a bit against righties in the previous 30 days. But he’s kept the power down over the same time frame. The walks are just a little high against righties.

Although the Guardians are deeper in the playoff hunt, the White Sox are favorites, with Dylan Cease on the mound. Chicago has -120 odds, while the Guardians are at +100. Meanwhile, the total is 8.5, with the under juiced at -115. In game 1 of the Guardians vs White Sox preview, the Under seems like the play with two stellar pitchers on the mound.

Game 2

TBD vs. TBD
Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET

Lucas Giolito was supposed to pitch on Friday. But he’s been traded to the Los Angeles Angels. It’s anyone’s guess who will start Game 2 now.

Game 3

Logan Allen vs. Touki Toussaint
Saturday, 7:10 p.m. ET

Logan Allen was recalled by the Guardians earlier this month. He’s struck out 24.2% of batters in the last month but has struck out 38.2% of batters against his previous 34 batters faced. Allen has allowed an extra-base hit in the last month and has earned close to 53% of grounders.

On the other hand, Touki Toussaint will head to the mound for Game 3 with the White Sox. He’s walked over 15% of batters over the last 30 days but has also earned 55% of ground balls. You get the best of both worlds with Toussaint. He’s an average pitcher at best.

This is likely the game where we get the most hits and runs.

Game 4

Aaron Civale vs. Michael Kopech
Sunday, 2:10 p.m. ET

Aaron Civale will get the final game of the series. Civale’s not a high strikeout thrower, but like the rest of the Guardians’ pitchers, he’s held teams to a low ISO and low wOBA over the last month. Civale’s susceptible to more fly balls than the other pitchers, but he’s limited walks well. That will limit the damage.

Civale will take on Michael Kopech. The right-hander has walked nearly 30% of batters against his last 51 batters faced. He’s also allowed a .314 ISO and wOBA of .425 to those 51 batters. Kopech has been awful against lefties and will have to face some big left-handed sluggers in this Cleveland lineup.

I’d rock with Cleveland on Sunday.
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