Sunday's series finale at Daikin Park is set for first pitch at 1:10 PM CT, and the pitching slate has Cleveland's Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.60) opposite Houston's Kai-Wei Teng (3-6, 4.31). It is not exactly Cole vs. Bieber circa 2019, but it is a winnable bullpen game for whichever side gets to the other guy's middle relief first.
The Guardians come in at 39-35 and clinging to the idea of a postseason run with Jose Ramirez 5-to-7 weeks away from returning after hamate surgery on his left hand. Kyle Manzardo basically said the quiet part out loud — they are going to have to grind. Chase DeLauter (rib) and Angel Martinez (foot) are also on the 10-day, which is most of the outfield depth gone in one swing.
Houston is 35-41 and somehow still in the AL West conversation, which says more about the division than the Astros. Joe Espada is staring at a 60-day IL list that reads like a depth chart: Carlos Correa, Cristian Javier, Ronel Blanco, Brandon Walter, Hayden Wesneski, plus Lance McCullers Jr. and LaMonte Wade Jr. on shorter stays. They split the first 4 games of their last homestand against Detroit and just took 2 straight to stop the bleeding.
- 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) joined High-A Lake County on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 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 matchup tilts on who blinks first in middle innings. Cecconi has been a fine 4th/5th starter type but is getting handed a lineup that has had nothing to lose for weeks, and Teng is going to see a Guardians order that does not slug without Ramirez and just got 1-run-ed by the Brewers on Tuesday. Bullpens decide this on Sunday, full stop, and Cleveland's pen is still the better unit even with Erik Sabrowski out on rehab.