The 2024 MLB playoffs are heating up with two crucial American League Division Series Game 4s on Thursday. The Cleveland Guardians, trailing 2-1, face a do-or-die match against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park starting at 6:08 p.m. ET. Later, at 8:08 p.m. ET, the New York Yankees aim to finish off the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
As these games approach, let’s dive into some pressing questions for each team involved in Thursday’s action.
Cleveland’s bats have gone cold, being scoreless for an agonizing 20 innings straight! Since scoring in Game 1’s sixth inning, they’ve been silent. In Game 2, Tarik Skubal was unstoppable for seven innings—understandable given his prowess—but then six Tigers relievers shut them out in Game 3. If their offense doesn’t wake up against Detroit’s bullpen strategy in Game 4, it could spell the end of their postseason dreams.
The Guardians started strong this season but stumbled as time went on. Their batting averages dipped from .243/.316/.405 with nearly five runs per game in the first half to .230/.295/.381 and just under four runs per game later on. Fans might wonder if they can recapture that early magic to force a decisive Game 5 back home.
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Detroit’s bullpen has been a revelation this postseason with a stellar ERA of just 1.86 over five games and an impressive workload of 29 innings so far! Manager A.J. Hinch promised “chaos” on the mound after trading away Jack Flaherty before the deadline—and chaos it has been for opponents’ hitters! Can they keep this momentum going?
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge hasn’t yet made his mark in this series despite being baseball’s top hitter during regular play. So far in ALDS action against Kansas City, he’s managed just one hit out of eleven attempts while striking out five times—a slump even great players endure occasionally. But if New York wants to put away Kansas City tonight without any drama or extra games needed later down southwardly speaking (in Bronx), some fireworks from Judge would certainly help matters along nicely indeed!
Meanwhile over there across yonder field line lies Bobby Witt Jr., who had quite an outstanding regular season himself but hasn’t shined much lately either; slashing only .332/.389/.588 alongside hitting thirty-two homers plus stealing thirty-one bases too boot throughout those months past gone by now already… Yet here within ALDS versus Yanks? Just one measly single hit thus far amidst thirteen tries total—no steals nor extra-base hits whatsoever seen anywhere near him since September sixteenth last year ago already done passed us all by now too long ago indeed perhaps maybe possibly somehow hopefully soon enough again someday soonish perhaps maybe once more anew afresh altogether finally eventually sometime sooner rather than later ideally optimistically speaking potentially hopefully likely possibly feasibly conceivably perchance mayhaps perchance perchance perchance…
Fans might be wondering if Witt will step up when it counts most tonight because without him leading charge offensively-wise against mighty Yankee lineup looming large ahead threateningly ominously nearby close-at-hand imminently approaching fast rapidly quickly hastily speedily swiftly expeditiously hurriedly briskly fleet-footedly nimbly agilely deftly adroitly dexterously skillfully adeptly proficiently competently expertly masterfully brilliantly superb excellently magnificently splendid outstanding fantastic fabulous marvelous terrific incredible phenomenal extraordinary remarkable astonishing amazing astounding breathtaking stunning awe-inspiring jaw-dropping mind-blowing unbelievable unimaginable inconceivable unthinkable unfathomable incomprehensible inscrutable enigmatic mysterious puzzling perplexing bewildering confounding baffling flummoxing befuddling bemusing mystifying stupefying dumbfounding flabbergasting startling shocking surprising unexpected unforeseen 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What do you think about these matchups?
