This is the opener of a three-game series in Cleveland between the Guardians and visiting Chicago White Sox.
Martin Perez is scheduled to pitch for Chicago, while Tanner Bibee is slated to start for Cleveland.
White Sox at Guardians prediction, preview
Martín Pérez has pitched 45.2 innings since arriving in Chicago. The fastball is averaging just 89.9 mph, and he holds a 21% strikeout rate with a 9.7% walk rate. His ERA sits at 3.15 after being over 4.00 during his time in Texas. The big difference has been the lack of home runs — he’s allowed only four. That said, Pérez has been very fortunate. His barrel rate is a concerning 16.5%, while his BABIP is just .220.
All four home runs have come off the bats of right-handed hitters. His K-BB% is 28.9% against lefties but only 5.7% against righties. He’s also been much better at home, where his K-BB% is 15.7% higher, and his FIP is 2.85 compared to 5.39 on the road.
In eight starts with Chicago, Pérez has allowed more than three earned runs twice. He’s gone at least six innings in four of those outings. This will be his first time facing Cleveland as a member of the White Sox.
Against left-handed pitching, the Guardians rank 10th in strikeout rate and 22nd in ISO. Their wOBA ranks 28th in MLB.
Tanner Bibee has seen both his ERA and FIP rise in each of his three MLB seasons. As a rookie, he posted a 2.98 ERA and 3.52 FIP over 142 innings, along with a 24.1% strikeout rate. Through 161.1 innings this season, both his ERA and FIP sit at 4.69, and his strikeout rate has dropped to 20.3%. He’s allowed 27 home runs.
Nineteen of those 27 home runs have come on the road. His numbers are fairly consistent against both righties and lefties. Home and road splits are also similar, with the major difference being the home run count.
In 28 starts, Bibee has allowed more than three earned runs 13 times. He’s gone at least six innings in 13 starts as well. He has faced Chicago twice this season, both games coming on the road. In the first meeting back in July, Bibee went 5.1 innings, walked two, and struck out five while allowing two earned runs on five hits. In August, he again went 5.1 innings, walked four, and struck out seven while giving up four earned runs on five hits.
Against right-handed pitching, the White Sox have the 11th-highest strikeout rate, the 29th-best ISO, and rank 28th in MLB in wOBA.
As for the bullpens, since August 1, Chicago ranks 12th in FIP, while Cleveland ranks first.
White Sox at Guardians pick, best bet
This is a tough one. Neither pitcher is great, but both offenses are also bad.
