Guardians Weekly Watch: An easier schedule for the week

The Cleveland Guardians are 9-7 to start the week, good for second place in the AL Central. Here’s what they have coming up on the schedule.

The Cleveland Guardians, one of the stronger teams in the American League, are off to a solid start, sitting in second place in the AL Central behind the 10-6 Twins.

Offensive standouts José Ramirez and Andrés Giménez have been on a roll while the bullpen has been one of the best in the league.

If there’s a sore spot on the roster, it’s certainly the starting rotation. While Shane Bieber and injury replacement Peyton Battenfield have looked sharp, the other three members of the starting five have struggled mightily out of the gate.

After an early-season series against the always-dangerous Mariners and Yankees, Cleveland should be able to easily handle the upcoming opponents in the new week.

DIRECTV carries the most local MLB games, so die-hard baseball fans with the CHOICE package or higher can stay connected to their teams all season long with their regional sports networks, where available (Blackouts and additional fees may apply).

Here’s what Guardians fans should be watching for this week:

Apr. 17 Guardians vs. Tigers

Pitching matchup: Hunter Gaddis (CLE) vs. Matthew Boyd (DET)

The 5-9 Detroit Tigers will be the first opponent of the Guardians this week. With a minus-37 run differential, the Tigers should not pose much of a threat. Hunter Gaddis, 25, will be making the fourth start of his 2023 season and is going to be aiming for a better outing than his last one. Last week, he went just three innings against the Yankees and allowed eight earned runs on as many hits. Nine-year veteran Matthew Boyd will start opposite Gaddis. The 32-year-old has a 4.00 ERA in nine innings of work to begin the season.

Apr. 18 Guardians vs. Tigers

Pitching matchup: Peyton Battenfield (CLE) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (DET)

Peyton Battenfield, 25, had one of the best big league debuts you could hope for last week. The young righty when 4.2 innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out three. He is filling in for Aaron Civale while he recovers from a strained oblique. Eduardo Rodriguez, 30, has had a hard time getting going through three starts and 16 innings. The southpaw has a 4.50 ERA and 5.57 FIP with nine strikeouts, five walks and three home runs allowed.

Apr. 19 Guardians vs. Tigers

Pitching matchup: Cal Quantrill (CLE) vs. Spencer Turnbull (DET)

Cal Quantrill will get the ball in the series finale against the Tigers. The 28-year-old has a 5.74 ERA in 15.2 innings this season and has had a tough time keeping runners off the bases. He has already surrendered 11 runs (10 earned) with 21 base hits, something he will need to improve on before the Guardians are forced to try other options. Spencer Turnbull, one of the longest-tenured Tigers players, will make his fourth start of the year as well. He has struggled mightily to the tune of a 9.00 ERA in 13 innings of work.

Apr. 21 Guardians vs. Marlins

Potential Pitching matchup: Zach Plesac (CLE) vs. Braxton Garrett (MIA)

After an off day on Thursday, the Guardians will host the Marlins for another three-game set. While the pitching matchup is not yet set, Zach Plesac and Braxton Garrett are the two clubs’ next starters in line for Game 1. Plesac, 28, has a 6.92 ERA in 13 innings this year. He, like Quantrill before him, may not have a solid hold on a rotation spot if he can’t turn things around. Garrett, 25, has 13 strikeouts in as many innings through three appearances (two starts) this year. He is one of the better starters on the rebuilding Marlins and is expected to be a building block for them as they target their next contention window.

Apr. 22 Guardians vs. Marlins

Potential Pitching matchup: Shane Bieber (CLE) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA)

For fans of pitching duels and low-scoring games, this will be the one to circle on your calendars. Shane Bieber and Sandy Alcantara, two former Cy Young Award winners, will face off in Game 2 in one of the premier pitching matchups of the year so far. Bieber has 18 strikeouts and a 2.88 ERA in four starts this year and has easily been the best starter on the staff (again). Alcantara, last year’s NL Cy Young winner, has a 5.84 ERA in four starts and 24.2 innings pitched. He has had trouble getting going this year but is still to be viewed as one of the game’s best pitchers.

Apr. 23 Guardians vs. Marlins

Potential Pitching matchup: Hunter Gaddis (CLE) vs. Jesús Luzardo (MIA)

Gaddis will make another start to round out the week against the Marlins. Miami has a run differential of -26 to start this week, so this should be an easier opponent for him than the lethal Yankees lineup. Jesús Luzardo, 25, has been dominant so far this year. In three starts and 18.2 innings, the left-hander has a 1.93 ERA and 227 ERA+ with 20 strikeouts and just four earned runs allowed.