Guardians Face Orioles in Series Finale Tonight

BALTIMORE — The Cleveland Guardians are set to conclude their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, April 17, at Progressive Field. The matchup follows a split in the first two games of the series, heightening the stakes for this rubber match.

Starting for the Guardians is right-hander Tanner Bibee (1-1, 4.40 ERA), who aims to build on his impressive outings while shaking off a poor performance from earlier in the season. Bibee’s recent form showcases a stark contrast; he secured a shutout against the Kansas City Royals in his first start, yet faltered against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing seven runs in just four innings.

“I hope to bring my best version to the mound tonight and help the team secure a win,” Bibee commented during a pre-game interview. “It’s important to control the momentum, especially in a close series like this.”

In the lineup change for today’s game, Cleveland catcher Bo Naylor will rest, with Austin Hedges stepping in to start behind the plate. Naylor’s performance this season has been below expectations, posting a .516 OPS in 45 plate appearances.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, and today’s decision is about putting the best team on the field,” Guardians manager Tito Francona said. “Austin brings experience and skill, and we are confident in his abilities.”

The Guardians lineup for Thursday’s game includes: LF Steven Kwan, DH José Ramírez, 1B Carlos Santana, 3B Gabriel Arias, RF Nolan Jones, CF Lane Thomas, 2B Daniel Schneemann, C Austin Hedges, and SS Brayan Rocchio.

The Orioles will counter with Tomoyuki Sugano, another right-hander, looking to improve on his record of 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA over three starts. Sugano has faced challenges, yielding six runs on 17 hits so far this season.

This anticipated contest will air at 6:35 p.m. ET on Guardians.TV and throughout the radio network, including WTAM 1100 AM and WMMS 100.7 FM.