Travis Bazzana and the Cleveland Guardians will look to keep traffic going on the basepaths when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
The Guardians took the opener of the three-game series 7-2 on Monday behind seven hits and 10 walks. Bazzana delivered a two-run double in the third inning to break the game open, and the rookie second baseman also drew two walks.
“I felt comfortable in the box from the get-go,” Bazzana said, “but I am really starting to get it going.”
When he gets on base, Bazzana is also a threat to run. He is tied for second on the team with seven stolen bases despite having played in just 12 games. The 23-year-old Australian acknowledged he has “had lots of opportunities to run lately.”
“I wanted to be very efficient on the bases,” Bazzana said, “and I have started to understand when it’s a good time to run and when it’s not.”
Cleveland bench coach Tony Arnerich filled in on Monday for manager Stephen Vogt, who missed his second straight game with a viral infection.
Because the Guardians left 10 runners on base and went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position, Arnerich said the club would continue to discuss being more efficient at the plate.
“The guys want to get it done, obviously, they’re trying,” Arnerich said. “It’s about having conversations about where their headspace was at and what their approach was in an at-bat.”
Los Angeles is slated to start Walbert Urena (1-3, 3.22 ERA) on Tuesday after the right-hander tossed a gem to earn his first career win in his most recent outing. Urena allowed two hits and one run while walking three and fanning five over six innings as the Angels topped the Chicago White Sox 8-2 on Wednesday.
Urena will be opposing the Guardians for the first time in his career. He made the big-league club out of spring training as a reliever, then had a brief stint in the minors before getting landing a starting role in the majors.
“Being a reliever was new for me at that point,” Urena said. “Being a starter is really better for me because that’s what I’ve done all my career. And now I’m getting my chance to do it.”
The Guardians are scheduled to start Slade Cecconi (2-4, 6.15). In his latest start, Cecconi beat the host Kansas City Royals, giving up two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings on Thursday. Cleveland prevailed 8-5.
Cecconi has struggled in two career starts against the Angels, going 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA. Los Angeles hit him hard in 2024 (seven runs on 10 hits in three-plus innings) and 2025 (five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings).
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki hopes Cecconi and the staff can display more control than was on display in the 10-walk outing on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be hard to win a game when you allow that many walks,” Suzuki said.
Cleveland enters Tuesday with only four wins over the past nine games, while Los Angeles has dropped 16 of its past 21.
–Field Level Media
