This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Before the Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros can completely focus on the postseason, they will square off one more time to close the regular season.
The visiting Astros will look to sweep a three-game series between division winners on Sunday afternoon.
The American League Central-champion Guardians (92-69) have a bye into the divisional round, which won’t start for them until Saturday. That will offer Cleveland players some welcomed extra rest and give the coaching staff a chance to line up its pitchers for the playoffs.
“They’ve earned every bit of this,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “For them to be able to get five days (off) next week leading up to it. … We couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.”
The Guardians, however, will try to gain some momentum entering the postseason by avoiding being swept at home for just the second time in 2024. Cleveland has totaled five runs in losing the first two games of this series.
However, star Jose Ramirez matched a career high with his 39th homer during Saturday’s 4-3 loss. With another home run Sunday, Ramirez would join Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani as the only players this season to record at least 40 homers and 40 stolen bases.
“It’s just been an unbelievable year to watch,” Vogt said of Ramirez, who has 41 steals, 39 doubles and 118 RBIs in 2024. “It will be fun to see what happens (Sunday).”
The Astros (88-73), meanwhile, won the AL West for a fourth consecutive season and will open postseason play at home Tuesday against either Detroit or Kansas City. Houston was 26-34 on June 2 but has gone 62-39 since to reclaim its place as one of baseball’s most consistently successful clubs for the last decade.
“I never lost hope,” first-year Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I knew we were going to find ourselves in a position to come and compete and win the West.”
Kyle Tucker and rookie Zach Dezenzo each had two hits Saturday for the Astros, who have won 11 of the last 16. Dezenzo, playing near his native Canton, Ohio, is 4-for-10 with two RBIs in this series.
Tucker is 14-for-30 in his last seven contests. With little to play for on Sunday, Tucker could get rested before Houston resumes play for the postseason.
The Astros will turn to promising right-hander Ryan Gusto on Sunday to make his major league debut in a starting role. Gusto, added to the Astros’ taxi squad this week, went 8-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 29 appearances (26 starts) while helping Triple-A Sugar Land win the Pacific Coast League title this season.
“I’m excited to be here,” Gusto said. “It’s a dream come true. I feel really good about my season.”
The Guardians will use right-hander Nick Sandlin (8-0, 3.75 ERA) as an opener on Sunday. They are expected to turn to regular starter Gavin Williams (3-10, 4.86) for the bulk of the work after that.
Sandlin is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 career relief appearances against the Astros, while Williams is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in one career start vs. Houston.
–Field Level Media
