CHICAGO — This is a preview of the four-game series between the Guardians and Rays.
Where: Progressive Field, Thursday through Sunday.
TV/radio: Fox will televise Thursday’s game. Bally Sports will televise Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s games. WMMS, WTAM, WARF and the Guardians radio network will carry the series.
Probable pitching matchups, 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: Guardians are 1-3 against the Rays this season. Cleveland leads, 105-81, overall.
Rays update (71-75): They were swept in a three-game series by the Phillies on Wednesday night, losing for the sixth time in their last 10 games. They took two out of three from Cleveland right before the All-Star break. The Guards were held scoreless in two of the three games. Pepiot combined on a four-hit shutout on July 14, while Littell allowed one earned run over six innings in Cleveland’s only win on July 13. Bradley, meawhile, threw seven scoreless innings against the G’s on July 12.
Guardians update (84-62): They completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox on Wednesday to give them a 6-3 record on this three-city, nine-game trip. Williams will be making his second start against the Rays this season. He allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings on July 13. Jhonkensy Noel won that game, 4-2, with a two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth. If Cobb’s blister isn’t healed, Cantillo will start Saturday. Ben Lively could start Sunday, depending on how he feels after getting knocked out of Tuesday’s game after taking a liner off the right thigh.
Injuries:
Rays: 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) are on the injured list.
Guardians: 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) are on the injured list. RHP Alex Cobb (blister) and RHP Ben Lively (right thigh) are day to day.
Next: The Twins visit Progressive Field for a four-game series starting Monday.
