News and Notes: The Magic Number is One
News and Notes for Saturday, September 21st, 2024
The Guardians executed a business-like 5-1 win over the Cardinals on Friday night, combining with a Royals loss to the Giants to reduce their magic number to win the AL Central to ONE.
Jose Ramirez hit home run number 36 and got his 40th steal.
Hosey hits his 36th! #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/UJhP6JD1oD
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 21, 2024
He’ll have to hit four home runs in seven remaining games to join the exclusive 40/40 club, but, either way, it’s another amazing season for the future hall of famer. Afterwards, Jose emphasized in an interview that his only goal is for the team to win the World Series.
Josh Naylor isn't far behind José Ramírez in home runs this season, and Josey says he hopes Nayls can catch and beat his numbers because that's what's best for the team. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/0907HpwbWa
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 21, 2024
Andres Gimenez also smacked a pulled-fly-ball homer, bringing his September numbers up to 99 wRC+.
Gimé! Gimé! Gimé!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/cCLVGT0FLu
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 21, 2024
We need September Gime to stick around for a while because if he can be an average major league hitter with platinum glove defense, he’ll put up five wins. Lane Thomas added a home run and he has a 128 wRC+ over the past month of games.
Well, that's a unique Hammy call, lol.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/ZUQvsztJzQ
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 21, 2024
Ben Lively was very effective for five innings. What a Godsend he has been to a beleagured Guardians’ rotation all season. Then, Pedro Avila and Erik Sabrowski shutout the Cardinals over the next four innings (Sabrowski has yet to give up a run in nine innings of work). Sabrowski has some VERY interesting stuff, and I’d like it if he makes the bullpen for the playoffs.
Erik Dabrowski is yet another win for Cleveland's bullpen!
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) September 20, 2024
The iVB on the 4-Seam is nuts! https://t.co/nrk2JuHJ31 pic.twitter.com/17soQjmrvj
Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto had a nice article about the Guardians’ success. I appreciate that he has owned up to his poor preseason prediction of 72-90. It was a silly guess but no one is happier to be wrong about it than Pluto.
Alex Cobb’s blister is not quite ready for a rehab start and time is running out. Looks like Steven Kwan should be back on Tuesday, though. Hopefully, Cobb will be able to pitch in the Houston series and be able to give the team four innings in the ALDS. We will see.
AROUND MLB:
The Royals lost, as mentioned, 2-0 to the Giants.
The Tigers got blasted by the Orioles.
The Twins beat the Red Sox
The Astros beat the hapless Angels, so the magic number for the Guardians to get the two seed is three.