Three Positives From the Week of August 18th
The Guardians are letting us start the week (and the four-game set against the Royals) on a high after taking the series from the Texas Rangers.
The Guardians ended the weekend on a high, but here’s three more reasons to stay positive on this Monday morning.
Noel is Bringing the Boom
Rookie outfielder Jhonkensy Noel has been exactly what the team has needed him to be since his call up on June 26th. Currently hitting .268/.331/.634, Noel has been a pleasant surprise for a team in desperate need of some power. He’s brought that power with 12 home runs in just 41 games. His 11th home run on Saturday marked the second most by a Cleveland player in his first 40 games behind only Russell Branyan with 12 (via @SlangsOnSports).
His 115.9 max exit velocity rivals that of heavy-hitters like Aaron Judge and teammate José Ramírez. While he’s not yet a qualified hitter, his Baseball Savant page shows just how successful he’s been since his call up. His xwOBA, xSLG, Barrel%, and Bat Speed are all in the red (red = great) while his average exit velocity is above average. The future is bright for this young star and hopefully that future remains within Cleveland.
DeLauter Makes the Move
The Guardians announced last Monday that their No. 2 prospect Chase DeLauter would be getting promoted to Triple-A Columbus. In his first four games, he’s hitting .214/.313/.500 with a home run and two RBI. While it’s impossible to say how he will perform the rest of the year or even in Cleveland in the near future, the team has high hopes for the young star.
In 30 games with Double-A Akron this year, DeLauter hit .252/.328/.441 with five home runs. If he can find a bit more power, he will be vital to the big league organization before we even know it. Who knows, maybe he’ll get the September call up if the Guards can lock down the division early enough.
Boyd’s Success Continues
At the trade deadline, the Guardians needed to acquire a starting pitcher that could eat innings. They got exactly that when they acquired Matthew Boyd. With just a 2.70 ERA across 16.2 innings, Boyd has saved the bullpen from having to be eaten up every single day while starters Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie have been out and/or unreliable.
Boyd was a huge help on Sunday’s series finale against the Texas Rangers. He went six innings and gave up one earned run on three hits. He was able to come away with the win and helped the Guards clinch the series victory, one they desperately needed. With Boyd’s help, the Guardians have stretched their division lead to three games instead of the single game it was on Friday.