Royals at Guardians, August 28 live discussion
· Yahoo Sports
The Royals lost their winning streak since last we spoke, though not before they tacked two more onto it. They’ve also started their next winning streak, or at least it will be one if they can win again tonight. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time over the past week wondering if there is any chance for the Royals to get back into the playoff hunt. If they’re going to, it almost certainly starts with a sweep of the Guardians. They might keep themselves from falling completely back off the cliff they’ve scaled if they at least win the series. Either way, they need a win tonight.
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The good news for the Royals is that Michael Wacha, their most consistent starter, will take the hill. Wacha hasn’t really dazzled at any point this season, but he just keeps preventing runs from scoring and, importantly considering his bullpen, he keeps chewing innings. Tonight will almost certainly see him surpass his 2024 regular-season innings total, which was itself the most innings he had thrown in any season except his 2015 Sophomore campaign. Barring injury or sudden ineffectiveness, Wacha will surpass last year’s totals after his next start or the one after that. From there, it’s two more starts to surpass his career best. The Royals have 27 games remaining; he figures to start in at least 5 of them. It’s a real possibility.
The other good news, at least relative to the remainder of the weekend, is that the Guardians will counter with Tanner Bibee. Two years ago, Bibee was the Guardians’ ace. No longer. Now he’s on something of a Michael Wacha trajectory where he pitches better than you think, but not as well as anyone hoped after those first couple of seasons. And, importantly, he’s right-handed. That sets him apart from the other two starters the Royals will face this weekend.
The Royals will want to watch for his cutter. He throws it more than any other individual pitch, though he does a really good job of mixing up his pitches in general, and so he doesn’t even throw it quite a quarter of the time. It’s the one that he has the most consistent ability to get chases and whiffs with, but it’s also the one that is most likely to be punished if he doesn’t throw it well or the Royals are ready for it.
Lineups
Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. have both teed off on Bibee in their careers, combining for five home runs against him and each with an OPS well over 1.000. John Rave’s hitless night sends him back to the bench and gets Nick Loftin back in there at the keystone.