CLEVELAND — The Guardians do not need to save their season Monday night, but they do need to make sure it does not get much harder.
Cleveland gets its chance to even the American League Division Series Monday evening when the Guardians host the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Chicago took the opener, 3-0, leaving Cleveland looking for an offensive response after failing to score in Game 1.
| Game Information | |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians — ALDS Game 2 |
| Starting Pitchers | Anthony Kay (LHP) 10-9, 4.44 ERA vs. Gavin Williams (RHP) 14-8, 3.76 ERA |
| Where to Watch | TBS | truTV | HBO Max |
| Game Eats | DoorDash | Grubhub |
Williams gives Cleveland a good chance to get the series even. The right-hander finished the regular season 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA and 248 strikeouts, while Chicago will counter with left-hander Anthony Kay, who went 10-9 with a 4.44 ERA and 129 strikeouts.
The bigger question is whether the Guardians can give Williams something to work with. Cleveland was shut out Saturday, and regardless of who is on the mound, the offense has to be better. The Guardians need to get runners on base, produce with men in scoring position, and avoid another game where one mistake by the pitching staff feels enormous because the lineup cannot answer it.
There is still plenty of baseball left in the series, but Game 2 carries obvious importance. A win sends Cleveland to Chicago tied 1-1. A loss would leave the Guardians needing three consecutive victories to keep their season alive.
That makes Monday simple. Williams needs to give Cleveland a chance, and the offense needs to do something with it.
