Guardians Open Home Stand Against Pinstripes Tonight
Cleveland is back home where it belongs. The New York Yankees visit Progressive Field tonight to open a pivotal three-game series, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET. The game airs on FS1, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, and YES Network. After a rugged road trip through Texas, the Tribe needs a reset — and there’s no better place to get right than the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
Starting Pitchers: Two of the AL’s Best on the Mound
This one is appointment television, folks. Cleveland sends its ace to the hill in a marquee pitching matchup.
Gavin Williams (CLE) — RHP
- Record: 9-3 | ERA: 3.20 | K: 94
- Williams has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts.
- He has pitched 81.2 innings this season with a 1.08 WHIP.
Will Warren (NYY) — RHP
- Record: 7-1 | ERA: 3.22 | K: 70
- Warren has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four outings.
Two right-handers, both dialed in. Low-scoring, high-intensity baseball is the forecast tonight — don’t touch that dial.
Series Context: Revenge Is a Dish Best Served at Progressive Field
Cleveland won two out of three against the Yankees in their last meeting, but dropped two of three against the Red Sox before that. Prior to the current series, New York lost two of three to the Guardians but won two out of three against the Athletics before that.
The Yankees enter tonight at 38-26, while the Guardians stand at 37-29. Cleveland leads the AL Central and holds a cushion in the division race, making this series against a legitimate AL East contender a true measuring stick moment.
The full three-game slate looks like this:
- Mon. June 8: Warren vs. Williams — 6:40 PM (FS1)
- Tue. June 9: Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.00 ERA) vs. Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.92 ERA) — 6:40 PM (Amazon Prime Video / TBS)
- Wed. June 10: Carlos Rodón (LHP, 1-2, 2.88 ERA) vs. TBD — 1:10 PM (YES)
Opponent Scouting: Watch Out for the Bombers’ Power
New York has posted a 3.27 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and a .222 opponent batting average this season, while scoring 324 runs with a .242 team batting average.
The Yankees are dangerous even without their biggest bat. Aaron Judge is currently OUT, though he has led New York with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs on the year. Ben Rice has added 18 home runs and 45 RBIs. The Yankees are 19-14 on the road this year.
One name to keep an eye on: Giancarlo Stanton has hit a home run in five of his last six appearances against the Guardians and has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 road appearances against AL Central opponents with a winning record. You’ve been warned, Cleveland.
3 Guardians to Watch Tonight
1. Jose Ramirez
- Ramirez leads Cleveland with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs on the season.
- Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last seven games against AL East opponents. That streak needs to continue.
2. Travis Bazzana
- Bazzana went 3-for-4 with a solo home run (his first career leadoff homer), a triple, and a stolen base in Friday’s loss to the Rangers — his fourth HR in 34 games and ninth stolen base.
- The young Aussie has been Cleveland’s offensive spark plug from the leadoff spot. He needs to set the table against Warren tonight.
3. Gavin Williams
- He’s the story. He’s 9-3. He’s been Cleveland’s most reliable arm all season. Williams carries a 3.20 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP into tonight’s start.
- A strong outing against a potent lineup — even a Judge-less one — would be a signature moment for the big righty.
Recent Guardians Form
Let’s be honest — the road trip left a sour taste. Cleveland has lost three of their last four games and scored two runs or fewer in all three of those losses. The offense has gone quiet at exactly the wrong time.
Cleveland has posted a 3.77 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and a .238 opponent batting average this season, while scoring 272 runs with a .231 team batting average and a .316 on-base percentage. The pitching can keep them in games. The offense needs to wake up — tonight, at home, against a Yankees squad without Judge, is the perfect opportunity.
Progressive Field awaits. Let’s get back on track, Tribe. #GuardsBall
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