CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Xzavion Curry is set to make his fourth start of the year on Sunday. Curry holds a 3-1 record with a 2.90 ERA this season.
Curry was charged with his only loss of the season in his last start which came against the White Sox. He allowed one run on two hits in three innings pitched in the 3-0 loss on July 28th. Curry owns a 2.45 ERA in four outings this season against Chicago.
Rather than being titled a bullpen game, Xzavion Curry is expected to stay in the rotation. Manager Terry Francona clarified on Friday that the plan moving forward is to leave him in the fifth starting spot and let him get stretched out. Curry has not pitched more than three innings in his last ten outings.
Rubber match – Cleveland has another rubber match on their hands to end the weekend home series.
The Guardians are 9-7 in rubber matches this season, including a 6-5 record at home. The last rubber match between the White Sox and Guardians was played on May 24th this year at Progressive Field when Chicago won 6-0.
The White Sox haven’t won a series against an American League opponent since June 23rd-June 25th when they took two of three games at home against the Boston Red Sox. Chicago has also lost nine of their last 11 road contests.
Tensions are high – After six ejections were handed out in Saturday night’s brawl, one player that started the melee at second base is in the starting lineup for Sunday’s series finale.
Jose Ramirez will bat third and serve as Cleveland’s designated hitter, while Tim Anderson is not in Chicago’s lineup.
“I think [Tim Anderson] has been disrespectful to the game for a while,” Ramirez said after Saturday night’s 7-4 loss. “It's not from yesterday or from before. I've even had the chance to tell him during the game, ‘Don't do this stuff, that's disrespectful, don't start tagging people like that’ because, in reality, we're here trying to find ways to provide for our families."
The clubhouse on Sunday prior to the game had a light and almost playful atmosphere. Guardians starter Triston McKenzie even referred to Ramirez as retired heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson.
“I could tell that these two teams don’t like each other,” Saturday’s starter Noah Syndergaard said, “and I don’t think that’s going to be resolved any time soon.”
The White Sox are 7-5 against the Guardians this year, and Sunday’s series finale will be the final time they play one another this season. The next meeting between the two clubs will be on April 8th, 2024, Cleveland’s home opener.
Calhoun at first base – Kole Calhoun made his debut for Cleveland on Saturday as the designated hitter. He hit a line-drive RBI single to right field to score Oscar Gonzalez in the 7-4 loss, but now he’s ready to make his debut in the field for the Guardians at first base.
“He’ll go out to take some ground balls there just to see how he feels because it’s kind of the obvious place that there are some at-bats,” Francona said when the team acquired him on Friday. “I don’t want to do something with a player that is unfair, but he’s willing to try and I think that’s good.”
Calhoun started his career in 2012 as an outfielder and first baseman, but he’s primarily played right field in his 11-year career.
