The Cleveland Guardians have a prime opportunity to enhance their position in the American League Central as they face the Minnesota Twins in a day-night doubleheader on September 30, 2023, in Minneapolis. Currently sitting at 82 wins and 71 losses, the Guardians are just 2.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers, who lead the division with an 85-69 record. This matchup comes on the heels of a commanding 6-2 victory for the Guardians in the series opener on Friday.
The Guardians’ rise in the standings is notable, considering they trailed the Tigers by as much as 15.5 games earlier in the season on July 8. Despite the Twins being out of playoff contention with a record of 66-87, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” Vogt stated. “We know that we have to play flawless baseball to win.”
First Matchup: Cecconi Faces Ryan
The first game of the doubleheader serves as a makeup for a postponed match from May 20. Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi, who holds a record of 6-6 and a 4.39 ERA, is set to take the mound against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan. Ryan, boasting a record of 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA, has been a standout for Minnesota with 180 strikeouts across 161 innings this season.
Cecconi, 26, is on the verge of reaching 100 strikeouts for the season, needing just two more to hit that milestone. This will be his first career matchup against the Twins. In contrast, Ryan has faced the Guardians 11 times, achieving a 3-4 record with a 2.62 ERA in those appearances.
Second Matchup: Allen vs. Ober
In the nightcap, the Guardians will feature left-hander Logan Allen, who is seeking his first win since July 29. Allen’s record stands at 7-11 with a 4.36 ERA. He has struggled recently, going 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in his last seven starts. Allen has previously faced the Twins four times, recording a 2-0 record with a 2.61 ERA, and had a no-decision against Minnesota on May 19.
On the opposing side, Twins right-hander Bailey Ober aims to rebound from a recent loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he allowed four runs in six innings. Ober holds a career record of 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA against the Guardians, including a 1-0 mark this season.
Vogt explained his rationale for the pitching order, stating, “They’re both going to pitch (Saturday), so it doesn’t really matter. Slade’s going well in day games, but there’s really no rhyme or reason.”
The Twins have seen some positive developments from left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk. After pitching 1.3 scoreless innings on Friday, his ERA has dropped to 3.89. Over his last seven outings, Funderburk has not allowed a run while striking out ten batters. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli noted Funderburk’s potential, saying, “He’s got the stuff to do it. He can consistently make good pitches and throw strikes to both right-handers and left-handers.”
As the Guardians look to capitalize on this doubleheader, maintaining their momentum will be essential in their pursuit of the division title. The urgency is palpable as every game counts in the final stretch of the season.
