CHICAGO – This is a preview of the four-game series between the Guardians and Rays.
Where: Progressive Field, Thursday to Sunday.
Television/Radio: Fox will broadcast the game on Thursday. Bally Sports will broadcast the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. WMMS, WTAM, WARF and the Guardians radio network will broadcast the series.
Expected pitching duels, start times: RHP Gavin Williams (3-8, 5.25) vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.66) Thursday at 7:15 p.m.; RHP Tanner Bibee (11-7, 3.56) vs. RHP Zack Littell (6-9, 3.89) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; LHP Joey Cantillo (1-3, 5.96) or RHP Alex Cobb (2-1, 2.76) vs. TBD Saturday at 6:10 p.m. and TBD vs. RHP Taj Bradley (6-10, 4.40) Sunday at 1:40 p.m.
Series: The Guardians have a 1-3 record against the Rays this season. Cleveland leads 105-81 overall.
Rays Update (71-75): They were swept by the Phillies in a three-game series on Wednesday night, losing for the sixth time in the last 10 games. They took two of three games against Cleveland just before the All-Star break. The Guards were scoreless in two of the three games. Pepiot totaled four hits without a hit on July 14, while Littell allowed just one earned run in six innings in Cleveland’s lone win on July 13. Bradley threw seven scoreless innings against the G’s on July 12.
Guardians Update (84-62): They won three games against the White Sox on Wednesday to move to a 6-3 record on this nine-game, three-city trip. Williams will face the Rays for the second time this season. He allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings on July 13. John Kensy Noel won that game 4-2 with a two-run pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning. If Cobb’s blister doesn’t heal, Cantillo will start Saturday. Ben Lively could start Sunday depending on how he feels after being ejected from the game Tuesday after tearing a liner off his right thigh.
Injuries:
Rays: On the injured list are LHP Jeffrey Springs (left elbow), C Logan Driscoll (left quad), RHP Pete Fairbanks (right lat), UT Richie Palacios (right knee), LHP Shane McClanahan (left elbow), LHP Colin Poche (left shoulder) and RHP Jacob Waguespack (right rotator cuff).
Guardian: On the injured list are RHP Carlos Carrasco (left hip), LHP Sam Hentges (left shoulder), RHP Shane Bieber (right elbow), RHP Trevor Stephan (right elbow) and RHP James Karinchak (right shoulder). RHP Alex Cobb (blister) and RHP Ben Lively (right thigh) are being treated day-to-day.
Next: The Twins visit Progressive Field for a four-game series that begins Monday.
