CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians are set to call upon one of their top prospects this weekend.
Left-hander Logan Allen is expected to be called up from AAA Columbus and take the mound Sunday for the Guardians in the series finale with the Marlins according to manager Terry Francona.
“That's the plan,” Francona said. “Now if the weather went all to hell, that plan could change. But he's been informed that that's what we're we want to do and he would come up, I think maybe [Saturday] to be on the taxi squad. So that's what we're planning.”
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MLB.com ranks Allen as the Guardians eighth best prospect in their farm system in 2023.
In 14 1/3 innings over three appearances this season for the Columbus Clippers, Allen has a 1.26 ERA with 20 strikeouts.
“Been really good,” Francona said. “This is kind of that next wave, the beginning of maybe that next wave that we hope can impact us and help us win. I do think when kids come to the major leagues, you have to set some expectations that his first five innings are not going to define his career, but I think there's so much to about him that it's going to be fun to watch his progression.”
Tito doc – Francona isn’t one who like to talk about himself or his accomplishments much but Sunday night on MLB Network, a documentary featuring him will debut.
“I'm uncomfortable with that just because, I mean it kind of goes against everything I believe in,” Francona said. “I mean, the reason I'm here is for the players and for the organization. So when they start talking about you, it makes you feel uncomfortable. The one that ESPN did on on the Red Sox…it took me four or five years before I ever watched that.
“So I don't know that I'm necessarily going to run home and watch this. And it's not that I'm not honored that they cared enough to do it. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Several of Francona’s current and former players were interviewed and a couple of them, including Curt Schilling, have already messaged him to give the Guardians skipper some fun-filled grief.
“I know I try to be a pretty good self-evaluator,” Francona said. “I think I'm very fortunate. I know I've set the record for being around good people. I know that I'm a baseball lifer and I don't apologize for that. I'm proud of that. And I just try to do the best I can all the time, try to treat people right and try to ask your players to respect the game and play the game and treat them with respect and care about them. And I just, that's what I try to do. I don't try to ever convince myself I'm smarter than I am.”
Close calls – The Guardians have played a major league best 12 one-run games and are 6-6 in them to date this season.
“I think for a number of reasons we've played a lot of close games,” Francona said. “We're not hitting on all cylinders, but rather than maybe make an excuse to lose you, try to figure out that night, okay, how do we win this game? That's the object. If somebody hits a three-run homer to sprint out of a game, that certainly makes it easier. We hear me say it all the time: you try to not have a game or if you make a mistake it costs you. That's just kind of the way we've been playing though. So you hope you don't make mistakes.”
Look in the mirror – The Guardians and Marlins don’t play often but with Major League Baseball’s new scheduling model, they may in the coming seasons.
Francona is a fan.
“I think it's good you don't play teams in your division 19 times anymore,” Francona said. “That's too much. I always felt like it was too much. I think it's probably good for baseball and for fans because you're seeing all the players in the game. I mean the inter league [play] has gotten so much anyway.
“I think it's probably good for the game. I think the biggest hurdle is going to be weather because you're seeing teams now most except for your division once and that can be challenging.”
Go fish – The Marlins, who have won nine of 13, send left-hander Braxton Garrett to the mound in the series opener.
“We're going to see three really good arms and then in the bullpen you're going to see a bunch more good arms,” Francona said. “They play a lot of low scoring games. They're athletic. Remind me of us a lot, a little, just in some ways.”
Miami has already stolen 17 bases to date and they’ve been caught just twice.
Second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads baseball with a .438 average, has 28 hits in the first 18 games of the year, including nine multi-hit games.
“There's nothing he does at the plate that surprises me,” Francona said. “I mean he's such a gifted hitter.”
Rain or shine – The forecast for the weekend isn’t great with chilly temperatures and plenty of rain expected, even with Friday night's rain out.
Francona believes the Guardians rotation will be fine this weekend.
“I don't think we really have to. The only thing that could happen is if there's a rain out, it could affect us next Wednesday when you need another starter. But I don't think it's going to affect what we do the next couple days.”
They'll play a traditional double header Saturday at 3:10.
Roster moves – Two previously known moves became official Friday afternoon: infielder Brayan Rocchio was optioned to AAA Columbus (dated Thursday) and right handed reliever Enyel De Los Santos was reinstated from the Paternity List.
“Delo had a healthy baby girl. He's back, all smiles, so that’s good,” Francona said.