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It’s not hard to find the source of this year’s gap. Like the hitters, the Guardians’ pitchers have been more effective with runners in scoring position, leading the league with a 94 tOPS+ (that’s their performance relative to themselves) and fourth with an 83 sOPS+ (relative to the league). The numbers are similar in high leverage. An average pitching staff has been at its best in the most important spots.
They’ve all been important spots over the last two weeks, of course. Since September 5, when this ridiculous run started, the Guardians have a 1.45 ERA and 2.97 FIP, both leading the league. The underlying performance, collectively, isn’t outstanding: 22nd in strikeout rate, fifth in walk rate, 19th in K-BB%, but Cleveland’s starters have been second to only the Dodgers’ in fWAR with a 1.30 ERA in 83 1/3 innings. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams have finally looked like aces, while the back-end starters have been effective. Since he went into the rotation in July, Joey Cantillo has a 3.00 ERA and a 3.36 FIP, and he hasn’t allowed more than one run in a game in his last five starts.
They’ve all been important spots over the last two weeks, of course. Since September 5, when this ridiculous run started, the Guardians have a 1.45 ERA and 2.97 FIP, both leading the league. The underlying performance, collectively, isn’t outstanding: 22nd in strikeout rate, fifth in walk rate, 19th in K-BB%, but Cleveland’s starters have been second to only the Dodgers’ in fWAR with a 1.30 ERA in 83 1/3 innings. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams have finally looked like aces, while the back-end starters have been effective. Since he went into the rotation in July, Joey Cantillo has a 3.00 ERA and a 3.36 FIP, and he hasn’t allowed more than one run in a game in his last five starts.
