Something has got to give on Thursday afternoon when the visiting San Francisco Giants wrap up their three-game interleague set with the Cleveland Guardians.
In the decisive contest of the series, San Francisco's Landen Roupp (7-12, 4.31 ERA) will take on Cleveland's Gavin Williams (11-7, 3.74) in a battle of right-handers.
Cleveland last won a home series from June 26-28 against the Seattle Mariners, while San Francisco hasn't captured a road set since sweeping the Atlanta Braves from June 16-17.
"We got an opportunity to win a series, and that's all we can ask for," Guardians catcher Austin Hedges said.
Roupp has faced 26 teams in his three seasons, but Thursday will mark his initial game against Cleveland. In 20 interleague outings (16 starts), he is 7-3 with a 2.27 ERA.
Recent performances haven't gone well for Roupp, who has lost four consecutive starts and has a gaudy 6.52 ERA and 15 walks over 19 1/3 innings.
With Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson making his major league debut Tuesday, one day after Carson Whisenhunt was rocked for a career-high seven runs by the Guardians, it's clear that no one in San Francisco's rotation is guaranteed a long-term job.
"We're not in a position to rule anything out," said Giants manager Tony Vitello, whose squad has the second-worst record in the National League, behind the Colorado Rockies. "You can't be with the way this season has gone."
Former Guardians prospect Wilkinson, Adrian Houser and Dylan Smith combined to throw a six-hitter for San Francisco in a 1-0 victory on Wednesday. Victor Bericoto's infield RBI single in the fourth inning was the difference.
Houser, who has said he does not want to work out of the bullpen, pitched five innings of relief for the win. Wilkinson tossed the first two, giving up one hit while facing seven hitters.
"No complaints because it helped the team win at the end of the day," Wilkinson said. "It doesn't matter how I do it or which role I have, I just want to do it and help any way I can."
Cleveland has been blanked 12 times this season, tied with Seattle for the most in the American League. The Guardians are 10-20 since the All-Star break to plummet out of a postseason position.
Williams, All-Star Parker Messick and Tanner Bibee continue to be saddled with losses because of the Guardians' poor hitting and erratic relief work. Messick struck out 10 in the team's latest defeat.
"Any time you're not scoring runs is very frustrating, especially when your pitchers are out there dominating," Hedges said. "Obviously, we expect to win those games.
"I thought we took some good swings with guys in scoring position, but they didn't bounce our way. I still liked the at-bats."
Williams has gone six innings in both of his previous starts against the Giants -- two no-decisions on the road -- with a 2.25 ERA.
Also boasting a great nickname, "The Big Rig" hasn't made it past the sixth inning in three games in August, going 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA.
"It's baseball. I mean, we're working," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. "And it feels especially frustrating, but again, it happens and we're going to keep working together."
--Field Level Media
