Series Preview: Guardians at Braves
The two best teams in baseball meet in a clash of the titans
Not too many folks projected the Cleveland-Atlanta series at the end of April to feature the two best teams in MLB, but here we are.
Atlanta enters the series at 17-6 with a +44 run differential, a team wRC+ of 128 (leading MLB), a starting rotation FIP of 3.78, and a bullpen FIP of 3.85, and 2.3 Defensive WAR.
Cleveland enters the series at 18-7 with a +49 run differential, a team wRC+ of 113, a starting rotation FIP of 4.43, and a bullpen FIP of 2.55 (leading MLB), and 2.8 Defensive WAR.
Matchups:
Game 1: Logan Allen (5.50 FIP) vs. Chris Sale (3.38 FIP) 7:20 PM EST
Analysis: To be frank, this is not a great matchup for the Guardians. Let's hope the Guardians' recent success against LHP can continue against Sale.
Game 2: Tanner Bibee (4.74 FIP) vs. Charlie Morton (3.79) 7:20 PM EST
Analysis: This would be a great time for Bibee to right the ship from some early struggles and turn in an excellent performance against a good team.
Game 3: Ben Lively (3.23 FIP) vs. Bryce Elder (2.39 FIP) 1:35 PM EST
Analysis: Lively has handled a poor hitting Red Sox team twice and now we get to see how his new pitch mix and greater extension plays against the best offense in MLB. Bad human Marcell Ozuna has a 198 wRC+, Travis d'Arnaud has a 173 wRC+, Ozzie Albies has a 145 wRC+, Michael Harris II has a 137 wRC+, and Ronald Acuña has a 127 wRC+. Those will be some key hitters to control this series if the Guardians hope to either win the series or avoid the sweep.