September 14, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Defenders starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros may meet in this year's postseason, but for now, the two division champions are aiming to finish strong when they begin a three-game series in Cleveland on Friday. regular season.
Cleveland (92-67) won its second American League Central title in three years and clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs. Houston (86-73) clinched its fourth straight AFC West title and will host a best-of-three wild-card series starting next Tuesday.
Rookie left-hander Joey Cantillo (2-3, 4.63 ERA) will be the starter for the Guardians on Friday. This will be his ninth career appearance and eighth start since his July 28 debut against the Philadelphia Phillies. He never faced the Astros.
On September 19, Cantillo allowed 2 runs (1 ERA) on 3 hits and 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 3–2 win over the Minnesota Twins. He struck out three times and walked three, but he didn't take that decision into consideration. He had won two previous starts, allowing one run in 12 innings in that span.
Cantillo started as Cleveland's first-year manager Stephen Vogt orchestrated a bullpen game to beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Wednesday.
Vogt's decision was vindicated as seven relievers combined for six hits, one run, eight strikeouts, and two walk-offs.
The Guardians' bullpen has the league's lowest ERA at 2.59, tied with the Seattle Mariners for their lowest in a single season since 2014. Fewest home runs (0.73) and has the second-highest strikeout rate (26.1).
Closer Emmanuel Clase and his franchise-record 47 saves stood out, but the bullpen as a whole was solid.
“They've been consistent for us all year,” Vogt said. “They just moved the ball great.
“We couldn't ask for more than what this bullpen has done for us this year. Once again, we saw how great they can be.”
As for Houston, right-hander Ronel Blanco (12-6, 2.88) starts the series opener.
Blanco allowed two runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in six innings of Saturday's 10-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. In his previous three games, he had 13 scoreless innings. Blanco is 3-0 this month with a 0.95 ERA and 0.647 opponent OPS.
In his only career start against the Guardians, Blanco allowed two runs on five hits in four innings and struck out four. He did not consider the decision to win 3-2 at home on August 2, 2023.
The Astros lost 8-1 to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, taking the field for the first time since acquiring left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29 at the trade deadline.
Kikuchi made his third consecutive quality start, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out eight and walking one in six innings. In 10 starts with Houston, Kikuchi went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 60 innings.
With Houston clinching the third seed in the postseason, Kikuchi provides the Astros with desperately needed rotation depth while also eyeing another playoff push.
“We need to have a guy like that who can give us innings and get us runs,” Houston head coach Joe Espada said of Kikuchi. “That's what he did.”
–Scene-level media