Cleveland Sports Forum

Not sure why Peyton Battenfield, who's already on the roster for the weekend, isn't starting game 2 vs the Tigers today. Instead it's Xzavion Curry who has rushed through the minors after being a 7th round draft pick in 2019 and then waiting out the pandemic-cancelled minor league season in 2020.
Opened 2021 in Lynchburg, excelled, moved up to Lake County, excelled, got one start in Akron.
Opened 2022 in Akron, except for home runs pitched quite well, moved up to Columbus and ditto.
High school pal of Will Benson

Like any good Cleveland pitching prospect he strikes out vastly more than he walks.
198 Innings
236 strikeouts
46 walks

Kid Power

Pulling away.

Anybody miss Reyes?

The Guardians are reinventing baseball offense to feature getting on base, running the bases, and maybe some homers. Will it catch on?
It was kind of born out of necessity but by deleting Reyes and Bradley and converting homer first hitter Gonzalez [and perhaps Benson] into going with the pitch they're sticking to this "new" old idea.

Today's new starter:

18. Xzavion Curry | RHP

Born: Jul 27, 1998
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 5'10" Wt.: 189 [per Baseball America; Guardians web page says he's 6 feet 195]
Minors: 8-4 | 3.48 ERA | 113 SO | 30 BB | 101 IP
View Player Card

BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: Curry in 2017 became the first true freshman to be Georgia Tech's Opening Day starter since 1995. He was a stalwart in the Yellow Jackets' rotation for the next three years before being drafted by Cleveland. He didn't pitch in 2019 after signing due to shoulder inflammation and the 2020 season was canceled, delaying his professional debut until 2021. He made up for lost time, pitching at three levels to end the season with Double-A Akron.

Scouting Report: Curry is undersized for a righthander and isn't overpowering. His fastball sits in the low 90s, reaching 96 mph, but it plays up thanks to its shape and spin rate. He locates the pitch exceptionally well and can generate swings and misses with it. He relies heavily on his fastball, but also mixes in two breaking balls and a changeup. His slider has above-average potential and is his best secondary offering but it needs to be more consistent. Curry's whole arsenal plays up thanks to his plus control.

The Future: Curry's breakout season significantly elevated his profile. While he doesn't look like a traditional righthanded starter, he has a starter profile, and his style meshes well with the Guardians' approach. He'll start 2022 back in Akron.

Todays game at 3 PM on MLB network.

Giminez hitting cleanup in game one as Naylor rests. Is that the 1st time?

Tigers score first against Civale. Andres leads off the Guardians' second with a double. Now Oscar Owen and Nolan get chances to bring him.

checking in on the game, it's now the 4th, still 1-0. G's have just loaded the bases on Ramirez and Giminez singles and a Miller walk.
Nolan Jones hits with 3 on and 1 out.

And he delivers another clutch strikeout. Among all the young guys auditioning this year, Jones is not making much of an impression. [Benson too small a sample so far.] Now it's up to Hedges. and he grounds out.

So far very poor clutch hitting.

Giminez's two hits lift his average to 311 which is 2nd in the AL.

Nolan the Strikeout Machine has 28 in 89 tries.

in August he now has 11 K in 25 AB, no walks, no doubles, no triples, no homes, 5 singles.
Will Brennan waits for his turn.

Finally got one across the plate in the 5th to even the score. Jose singled in Straw, who like your standard Guardian, stole second to get into scoring position.

Civale is doing fine. a run in the first on 2 hits. Only 1 hit since.
The string of solid starts is up to about 10 now?

Oscar leads off our 6th with a double.
Once again Miller Jones and Hedges with opportunities.

Miller leaves Oscar on 2nd striking out.
3rd chance for Jones. I'll leave you in suspense. Have work to do.

Did you guess strikeout? You were right. It only took 3 pitches this time. Hedges ends the inning and Civale exits with this excellent line, but no decision:

6 3 1 1 1 10 granted it is against the Tigers, but still...

Straw leads off the bottom of the 7th with a walk. The chances to score are better now moving to the top of the order than when the middle of the order guys get on. Although so far today Kwan and Rosario are both hitless they offer more hope

Miller and Jones are lost at the plate. Not very smart hitters. Those are 2 spots on the 40 that could be cleared or traded if any interest.

Jones is the bonus baby. Gonzalez is the player.

Giminez once again is the star Now 2nd in the AL in batting. 5th in OPS. 23 year old.

5 year deal ASAP, o rlonger