The Cleveland Guardians return to Progressive Field on Sunday, July 19 for a 1:40 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Joey Cantillo gets the start for Cleveland, drawing one of the more compelling individual pitching matchups of any summer Sunday — the left-hander faces off against Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes, the hard-throwing Pirates starter who has established himself as one of the most-watched arms in the National League. First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET, with coverage available on Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive and on radio via WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, and the Guardians Radio Network.
Guardians vs. Pirates: Sunday Pitching Matchup at Progressive Field
Joey Cantillo has been a key part of the Guardians' pitching puzzle this season. The left-hander works with a deceptive delivery and relies on generating weak contact, which plays well at Progressive Field where the Guardians' pitching staff has historically leaned on limiting hard contact and working deep into counts. Sunday is a meaningful test of how far Cantillo has come as a frontline starter against legitimate competition.
On the other side, Paul Skenes arrives in Cleveland as one of the premier young starters in baseball. The Pirates righty features elite velocity and a sharp breaking ball that gives right-handed hitters fits. Facing Skenes at home is not a comfortable assignment for any lineup, and the Guardians will need to be disciplined and patient early in counts to have any chance of getting to him in the middle innings.
Keys to Watch: Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cantillo's command early: Cantillo's effectiveness hinges on his ability to locate and change speeds. If he falls behind in counts against Pittsburgh's lineup, it becomes a very different afternoon.
- Guardians' plate discipline against Skenes: Skenes dominates hitters who chase. Cleveland's lineup needs to work deep into counts and make him throw pitches — wearing him down is more realistic than overpowering him.
- Middle-inning bullpen bridge: Neither starter figures to go seven-plus innings on a hot July afternoon. How each club's bullpen handles the transition innings between starters could decide this game.
- Home crowd at Progressive Field: A Sunday afternoon at the corner of Ontario and Carnegie brings energy, and the Guardians tend to feed off their home environment. That intangible matters in close games.
Broadcast Information
- TV (Cleveland): Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive
- TV (Pittsburgh): SportsNet Pittsburgh
- Radio (Cleveland): WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, Guardians Radio Network
- Radio (Pittsburgh): Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan
- Spanish-language radio: WARF 1350
Prediction: Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, July 19
This one comes down to pitching on both sides, and that makes it a tighter game than the standings might suggest. Skenes is a real challenge, but home games at Progressive Field have a way of bringing out the best in the Guardians' lineup when it matters. Cantillo needs to match Skenes inning for inning early. If he can keep Pittsburgh off the board through five, Cleveland has enough in the bullpen and enough in the lineup to steal this one at home. Lean Guardians in a low-scoring game, 3-2.
