Let's dodge that fate Sunday as the Cleveland Guardians take on the Houston Astros.The Guardians are once again in first place in the AL Central.I often discuss how the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers find ways to be competitive every year despite not getting top-tier talent on their team.
Lost in that mix are the Guardians, who always seem to have a competitive team as well.They do have a superstar, but because he plays in Cleveland, Jose Ramirez gets far less attention than other top players in the league.
The good news for the Guardians is that he isn't even having a great year this year, and they are still winning.A Cleveland Guardians fan had a disastrous attempt at catching a foul ball that resulted in a ruined beer and soggy nachos.(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)Cleveland will send out Slade Cecconi.
One of the things that makes the Guardians so successful each year is finding talent or bringing out the best in their pitching staff.They haven't really been able to do that with Cecconi yet.
He is 3-5 for the season with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.He has made double the road starts to home starts, so the numbers are a bit skewed, but he does have a higher ERA on the road than at home.
The good news is he has been locked in most of May and all of June.He allowed three or fewer runs in eight straight starts, but he also has completed six innings just twice in that stretch.
He has allowed two or fewer in each of the past three games.The Astros were a team that was winning no matter how many players they lost.Obviously, they had a major scandal that helped them win a World Series, but they have also had a lot of top talent go through their clubhouse.
Even after big-name players left, the team continued to do well.It may be catching up to them, finally, as they are just 36-42.
The good news for Houston fans is that they still have a chance to win the division, as they are only a handful of games back.Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez celebrates with Christ...