Deadspin | Guardians start second half on positive note; Padres continue slump Trending Global News

The Cleveland Guardians got back on track with a win coming out of the All-Star break on Friday.

The win came at the expense of the San Diego Padres, who continued to struggle.

The Guardians can clinch another winning home series by handing the Padres their eighth loss in nine games on Saturday night.

Cleveland leads the American League Central but was in a 7-11 rut entering the break. However, the Guardians scored six times in the eighth inning on Friday to cruise to a 7-0 win over the Padres.

All-Star players David Fry, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez combined for seven hits and three RBIs, and Tanner Beeby allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings, helping the Guardians improve to 31-11 at home, where they have won 10 of their last 12 games and lost just one series this year.

“This team is a lot of fun. We're just playing baseball,” Bibby told Apple TV.

Meanwhile, San Diego has lost seven of its last eight games, outscoring the league in 45-17. The Padres managed just four hits Friday while their troubled bullpen has allowed six runs and owns a 10.00 ERA over its last nine games.

Despite this tough stretch, San Diego is still in the wild-card race in a crowded National League.

“We're in contention,” Padres general manager AJ Preller said on the club's website. “That's where you want to be. … Now, it's definitely about things we can improve upon.”

Saturday's scheduled Padres starter, Dylan Cease (8-8, 3.99 ERA), went 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his first five 2024 road starts but is 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA in his last five away from home. That includes giving up 13 runs, 15 hits, four homers and five walks in 7 1/3 innings over his last two road starts.

However, the right-hander gave up one hit, three walks and 11 strikeouts in six innings in his most recent performance — a 4-0 home win over Atlanta on July 13.

“I think I've finally managed to get some things to sync up,” Cease said. “You have to struggle until you get it to click.”

Cease has a 5-5 record and a 3.96 ERA in 12 games against the Guardians, all of which he has played with the Chicago White Sox.

Cleveland's Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez and Kwan – who is batting a Major League-best .354 – have combined to hit 19 of 58 (.328), including five doubles and two triples. Teammate Will Brennan is 4 of 8 with a homer against them.

Scheduled Guardians starter Gavin Williams (0-1, 3.77 ERA) gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings in his 2024 debut against the White Sox on July 3 after battling elbow inflammation since late March. However, the right-hander has given up just one run and seven hits in 10 1/3 innings over two starts since then.

That run, and three walks, came over five innings in his most recent start on July 13 at Tampa Bay.

“It's still a work in progress to get him back to that competitive intensity,” Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis told the Medina (Ohio) Gazette.

Willis said of Williams, who posted a 3.29 ERA in 16 starts as a rookie in 2023. “He's always shown the potential that we saw (against the Rays). We've seen it multiple times,” Willis said of Williams.

Williams will first get a look at San Diego All-Star Luis Arraez, who is batting .380 this season with two hits on Friday.

–Field Level Media