Cleveland sends Tanner Bibee (2-7, 3.96) to the mound against Tatsuya Imai (3-3, 6.43) for a 7:10 PM CT opener at Minute Maid Park. Bibee finally broke through with his first win of the season on June 6 against Texas and followed it up with 7 innings of 2-run, 8-strikeout ball against Detroit on June 12. Imai, meanwhile, recorded 2 outs against Kansas City in his last start before getting yanked having allowed 5 earned.
The bigger story for Cleveland is who isn't in the lineup. Jose Ramirez is out 5-to-7 weeks after surgery to repair a hamate fracture in his left hand, Chase DeLauter is on the 10-day IL with a rib issue, and Angel Martinez joined them with a foot problem. Losing Ramirez is the kind of hit most lineups don't survive, but the Guardians have stayed afloat at 40-35 and just took the rubber match in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Houston's pitching situation is grim and has been for months. Cristian Javier, Ronel Blanco, Brandon Walter, Hayden Wesneski, and Lance McCullers Jr. are all on the shelf, which is how Imai keeps getting the ball despite an ERA pushing 6.50. The lineup is missing pieces too — Carlos Correa is out for the year after ankle surgery, LaMonte Wade Jr. is on the IL with a hamstring, and Nick Allen is dealing with the same injury at short.
- Day-To-DayTanner Burns SP — no
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILChase DeLauter RF — The Guardians placed DeLauter (rib) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez 3B — Ramirez underwent surgery to address the hamate bone fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined 5-to-7 weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez LF — Martinez (foot) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, reports Cade Cracas of Sports Illustrated.
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski RP — Sabrowski (elbow) allowed two unearned runs and one walk while striking out two over a hitless two-thirds of an inning for Double-A Akron on Wednesday.
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek C — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
- 10-Day-ILBraden Shewmake SS — The Astros announced Monday that Shewmake (adductor) has taken part in baseball activity and is working his way through a running progression at the team's facility in Florida, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- 10-Day-ILLaMonte Wade Jr. 1B — Wade left Monday's game against the Angels with right hamstring soreness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILNick Allen SS — Allen was removed from Sunday's game against the Athletics due to left hamstring discomfort.
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. SP — Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday that McCullers (shoulder) has resumed throwing off a mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa RP — The Astros announced Friday that Sousa (elbow) has begun a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier SP — Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Javier (shoulder) will make a fourth minor-league rehab start before returning from the 60-day injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco SP — Blanco (elbow) tossed 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and will soon start a rehab stint in the Florida Complex League, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The Astros have actually played some decent ball at home recently, winning back-to-back over Detroit before the off day. But Imai has been the rotation's biggest problem and there's no obvious reason to expect that to flip against a Cleveland lineup that just put a 4-spot on Milwaukee. If the Guardians get to him early, the Houston bullpen — which has been carrying water all year — is going to be staring down a long night.
Bibee is the trust-tree arm in this one. He's gone at least 7 innings in each of his last two and has six quality starts on a year where the record doesn't reflect the work. If he gives the Guardians another length outing, Cleveland's path to a road win runs straight through the first 5 innings.