St. Louis @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2024 ) Cleveland 1, St. Louis 2
A six-week downward spiral by the Cleveland Guardians reached a low point in their series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
The Guardians matched their season high with four errors -- three by first baseman Kyle Manzardo in one inning -- and managed only two hits in a 6-0 loss. They also lost star third baseman Jose Ramirez for the final five frames after he was hit by a pitch on his right arm.
The Guardians will stay at home Friday night to begin a three-game interleague set against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals' Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Luis Ortiz (4-8, 4.30), who is tasked with turning around Cleveland's 15-22 slump, which began after the team moved a season-high eight games over .500 on May 13.
"The recipe is here; we just have to find the right way for it to click," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "I think we have the ingredients right here, right now, that can win. But we have to continue to work to get more consistent."
Despite Vogt's outward confidence, Cleveland looks nothing like the team that reached the 2024 American League Championship Series.
The Guardians' .229 batting average is the worst in franchise history for a non-shortened season, and their 58 errors are the third-most in the majors, behind the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.
"Defense and stringing hits together, that's when we're at our best," Vogt said. "We just haven't been clicking all at the same time."
Ortiz has been rocked in five career appearances against the Cardinals, going 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA.
Gray, who will face Cleveland for the 20th time, is 6-5 with a 3.47 ERA against the franchise.
St. Louis wrapped up its seven-game homestand Thursday with a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals brought the tying run to the plate with no outs in the ninth before Daniel Palencia struck out Nolan Arenado, Thomas Saggese and Nolan Gorman.
The Cardinals had just three hits while playing their ninth game in an eight-day span, going 6-3 against the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Cubs.
St. Louis should have left fielder Lars Nootbaar back from a two-game absence, provided the injection he received to relieve intercostal discomfort does its job. His return will be welcomed, as right fielder Jordan Walker remains out with appendicitis.
Walker did not require surgery because his symptoms were caught early. He is expected to come off the injured list when eligible on July 3.
"He got it checked out immediately after feeling it," Cardinals manager Carlos Marmol said. "The doctors felt like holding him overnight was important to make sure they could access antibiotics and treatment over having to go in and get it."
Alec Burleson has taken advantage of the extra playing time, hitting a two-run homer Monday and making two nifty catches in right Tuesday as St. Louis beat the Cubs on back-to-back nights.
The latter was notable as Burleson has played 23 games at first base, compared with 22 in right field and seven in left.
"There were plays I feel like I could have made (in previous seasons), but didn't," said Burleson, who is hitting a career-high .297 with nine homers and 33 RBIs.
"There is a lot of extra work that goes into it that not everybody sees. Now it's coming together for me."
--Field Level Media