Cleveland Guardians (0-0) at Kansas City Royals (0-0)
Game 1:
Date: March 27th
Time: 3:10 PM CDT
Broadcast: Guardians TV/ FanDuel Sports Kansas City
Game 2:
Date: March 29th
Time: 3:10 PM CDT
Broadcast: Guardians TV/ FanDuel Sports Kansas City
Game 3:
Date: March 30th
Time: 1:10 PM CDT
Broadcast: Guardians TV/ FanDuel Sports Kansas City
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Probable Starters:
Game 1: Tanner Bibee (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cole Ragans (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
The Guardians have tagged Tanner Bibee as their opening day starter in 2025. Bibbe made 31 starts last year for the Guardians, earning a 3.56 FIP. He pitched in 173.2 innings with 187 strikeouts and a 9.7 K/9. Cole Ragans has been named the opening day starter for the Royals. Last year, he made 32 starts, recording a 2.99 FIP and a 1.143 WHIP. In 186.1 innings pitched, he struck out 223 batters on his way to a 10.8 K/9.
Game 2: Gavin Williams (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Gavin Williams will get the start in game two for the Guardians. Williams struggled last year in 16 starts, losing ten of them. He pitched 76 innings, recorded a 3.67 FIP, and a 1.368 WHIP. Williams struck out 79 batters and had a 9.4 K/9 in 2024. Kansas City will send Seth Lugo out to the mound in game two. Lugo last year made 33 starts for the Royals. He pitched 206.2 innings, recorded a 3.25 FIP, and had a 1.089 WHIP. Lugo struck out 181 batters with a 7.9 K/9 in 2024.
Game 3: Luis L Ortiz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
The Guardians turn to Luis Ortiz in the series finale. Ortiz spent last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 37 games and made 15 starts for the Pirates. Ortiz pitched in 135.2 innings, recorded a 4.25 FIP, and a 1.113 WHIP. He struck out 107 batters, had a 7.1 K/9, and earned one save last year. Michael Wacha will take the mound for the Royals in game three. Wacha made 29 starts last year. He pitched in 166.2 innings, recorded a 3.65 FIP, and a 1.194 WHIP. Wacha struck out 145 batters and had a 7.8 K/9 last season for the Royals.
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Players to Watch:
Cleveland Guardians
Jose Ramirez played in 158 games for the Guardians last year with a 6.8 WAR rating. He had 114 runs scored, 39 doubles, two triples, 39 home runs, 118 RBIs, and 41 steals. Ramirez ended 2024 with a .279 batting average and a .872 OPS. Ramirez played in 13 games last year against the Royals. He had a .308 batting average, 16 hits, three home runs, nine RBIs, and 10 runs scored.
Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. played in 161 games for the Royals last season. Witt had a 9.4 WAR rating in 2024. He scored 125 runs, hit 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, drove in 109 runs, and stole 31 bases. Witt finished 2024 with a .332 batting average and a .977 OPS. In 13 meetings with the Guardians last year, Witt had a .347 batting average. He had 17 hits, four home runs, seven RBIs, and nine runs scored.
Next Up:
Cleveland Guardians: March 31st-April 2nd at San Diego Padres
Kansas City Royals: March 31st-April 2nd at Milwaukee Brewers
