Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 6

Foster Griffin Makes 1st Guardians Start After Trade as Cleveland Chases Wild Card

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 6

Foster Griffin Makes 1st Guardians Start After Trade as Cleveland Chases Wild Card

Q: Will Foster Griffin's highly anticipated debut for Cleveland end in disaster against a Mets lineup that already haunts him?

Probably not a disaster, but the setup clearly gives the Mets a real chance to make Griffin’s Cleveland debut uncomfortable. Griffin’s full-season numbers are excellent: 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and an All-Star résumé built on a deep seven-pitch mix. He also had a recent stretch of eight straight starts allowing one run or fewer, so this is not a pitcher in obvious collapse. That makes the word “disaster” too strong based on the evidence alone. Still, the warning signs are real. This is Griffin’s first start after the trade from Washington, and even Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt framed the transition simply: keep doing what you’ve been doing. That adjustment period matters, especially against a team that already tagged him for five runs in five innings earlier this season. The Mets have also already won the first two games of the series, including a comeback extra-innings win, which suggests they are seeing Cleveland pitching well. The larger edge in the matchup is on the other side. Nolan McLean has been one of New York’s best arms, with a 3.29 ERA, 148 strikeouts and a dominant 2.29 road ERA. He has delivered five quality starts in July and has been especially sharp away from home. If McLean controls the game, Griffin may not get much margin for error. So the likeliest outcome is not a total blowup, but a shaky debut is very much in play, and that is why the betting case still leans toward the Mets.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 6

Foster Griffin is set to make his first start for Cleveland after the trade-deadline deal, with the Guardians adding him to strengthen a rotation for the playoff race.
12-3 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, Griffin arrives from Washington in a breakout season but faces the uncertainty of adjusting to a new team and league.
Cleveland enters three games behind the White Sox and tied for the final AL Wild Card spot, with four teams within three games of that berth.
Nolan McLean starts for the 49-66 Mets after they sold pieces at the deadline; he is 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 148 strikeouts.