Can White Sox Outplay Guardians at Camelback Ranch?
As the Chicago White Sox gear up to face the Cleveland Guardians, fans are left pondering whether their team can turn around their preseason fortunes. The upcoming clash at Camelback Ranch is a chance for the White Sox to refine their gameplay before the regular season kicks in.
The recent performance of the White Sox has been a mixed bag, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistency. On March 17 against the Oakland Athletics, they managed to scrape together 7 hits but fell short in runs, scoring only 3. Their hitting average stood at .212 and an on-base percentage (OBP) of .257 – numbers that need improvement if they are eyeing victory against the Guardians.
One glaring issue for CWS has been their bullpen's performance. In their last outing on March 16 against San Francisco Giants, while playing at home in Phoenix's Camelback Ranch, they allowed a staggering 11 runs despite racking up an equal number of hits as their opponents. The bullpen's earned run average (ERA) was an alarming 11.368 over just over six innings pitched – a stat that will have undoubtedly drawn attention from pitching coach Ethan Katz.
However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for CWS; there were positives to draw from these games as well. Their defense showed signs of solidity with a fielding percentage close to perfection (.976) on March 17 and even better (.968) on March 16 against Seattle Mariners.
Looking ahead to facing Cleveland Guardians, it’s crucial that CWS capitalizes on any offensive opportunities presented during the game – particularly when runners are in scoring position (RISP). With only one hit from six AB RISP recorded against Oakland Athletics and three hits from ten AB RISP versus San Francisco Giants; this is an area ripe for improvement.
The upcoming game presents another opportunity for hitters like Tim Anderson and José Abreu to find form and drive in those crucial runs. Moreover, Luis Robert’s speed could be pivotal both defensively in center field and offensively if he gets on base.
CWS fans should keep an eye out for how manager Tony La Russa adjusts his lineup and strategy going into this game after analyzing performances from previous matchups this preseason.
The scheduled date for this encounter is March 18th with first pitch slated for 1:05 PM MST at Camelback Ranch located in Phoenix, Arizona. Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into NBCS-CHI network where coverage will be broadcast live.