BREAKING: Cleveland Guardians lost another key man
On Tuesday night, the Cleveland Guardians suffered their third consecutive loss, succumbing to the Seattle Mariners with a final score of 8-5.
Triston McKenzie, the Guardians’ pitcher, had a rough outing, lasting only 2.1 innings and allowing four runs on three hits and four walks. Notably, he didn’t manage to strike out any batters, resulting in his ERA soaring to 4.48 after this disappointing performance.
This defeat adds to the ongoing struggles of the Cleveland starting pitching staff, which has been one of the weakest in baseball throughout the first half of the 2024 MLB season.
Out of the Guardians’ starting pitchers, only two maintain ERAs below 3, while two others have ERAs exceeding 5. Despite the setback of Shane Bieber’s injury, which undoubtedly affected the team, the starting rotation would still pose a significant issue for Cleveland even if he were healthy and playing.
In the past three weeks, spanning 17 games, Cleveland’s starting pitchers have rarely gone beyond the sixth inning, with only one instance of reaching the seventh and none making it to the eighth. On average, they’re lasting just 4.2 innings per game during this period.
Although the Guardians currently hold a 44-26 record and lead the AL Central by a comfortable margin of 4.5 games (six in terms of losses), sustaining this pace seems challenging if the starting rotation continues to underperform.
The team’s recent struggles are evident, with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games and conceding 20 runs in their current three-game losing streak.
Beginning a demanding stretch of 26 games in 27 days, Cleveland faces tough opponents, including teams with winning records. The next 13 games, in particular, are daunting, with matchups against formidable teams like the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals.
While Cleveland boasts the best bullpen in baseball this season, the strain on relievers is foreseeable if the starting rotation doesn’t improve.
With Bieber out for the season, the Guardians must seek solutions before the July 30 MLB trade deadline. Speculation surrounds potential trade targets like Jesus Luzardo of the Miami Marlins, although Luzardo himself has struggled this season with a 5.00 ERA.
Comparatively, top teams like the New York Yankees and the Orioles showcase exceptional starting pitching, highlighting Cleveland’s deficiency in that area.
The Guardians face a pressing need to address their starting rotation issues, as internal solutions appear unlikely without significant improvement from current pitchers like McKenzie or Logan Allen.