Sports Today Sunday, September 20
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 20, 2026
Athletics
61-94 · 4th in AL West, 17 GB
Offense cooling lately
RHP Jack Perkins · High-strikeout arm
@
Cleveland Guardians
80-75 · 1st in AL Central
Bats heating up
RHP Gavin Williams · Elite strikeout stuff
MLB · Progressive Field · 10:40 AM PT

Team Identity

Athletics
Season-to-date, 155 games, 6,047 PA.
An opportunistic offense that cashes in scoring chances. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Average63
Contact
Average60
Plate Discipline
Below Avg34
Speed
Below Avg33
RISP
Above Avg73
Recent Form
Trending Down
Walk rate is down 22% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Cleveland Guardians
Season-to-date, 155 games, 6,074 PA.
An aggressive offense that runs and pressures defenses on the bases, though it can be light on power. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Well Below11
Contact
Below Avg43
Plate Discipline
Average64
Speed
Elite87
RISP
Well Below12
Recent Form
Trending Up
Total bases per PA is up 28% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Guardians bring the more aggressive profile, while Athletics lean on being opportunistic.

Swing Factor

Gavin Williams strikes hitters out at a 32.0% clip (98th percentile); Athletics carry a 21.7% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Athletics are trending down and Guardians are trending up over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Gavin Williams miss enough bats?
Gavin Williams strikes hitters out at a 32.0% clip (98th percentile); Athletics carry a 21.7% strikeout rate.
Edge · AthleticsGavin Williams: 32.0% K rateAthletics: 21.7% K rateHigh confidence
Can Jack Perkins miss enough bats?
Jack Perkins strikes hitters out at a 24.8% clip (74th percentile); Guardians carry a 20.2% strikeout rate.
Edge · Jack PerkinsJack Perkins: 24.8% K rateGuardians: 20.2% K rateHigh confidence
Can Gavin Williams command the strike zone?
Athletics walk in 8.3% of trips; Gavin Williams allows walks sparingly (7.5%).
Edge · Gavin WilliamsAthletics: 8.3% walk rateGavin Williams: 7.5% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Jack Perkins command the strike zone?
Guardians walk in 9.0% of trips; Jack Perkins allows walks at a fairly typical rate (9.4%).
Edge · GuardiansGuardians: 9.0% walk rateJack Perkins: 9.4% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Gavin Williams limit Athletics' power?
Athletics rank in the 63rd percentile in extra-base production, while Gavin Williams sits in the 52nd percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · AthleticsAthletics: 0.349 TB/PAGavin Williams: 0.333 TB/PA allowed (729 PA)High confidence

Pitcher Trends

Jack Perkins
Jack Perkins
Athletics · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.1/start
Hits allowed5.8/start
4 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 64 or fewer Strikeouts — 3 of last 6
25% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Gavin Williams
Gavin Williams
Cleveland Guardians · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts8.2/start
Hits allowed3.9/start
7+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 6
32% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Angel Martinez
Angel Martinez
Cleveland Guardians · 0.407 hit rate · 0.963 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L107 / 10L2516 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 149% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 6 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 19%.
Petey Halpin
Petey Halpin
Cleveland Guardians · 0.294 hit rate · 0.471 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L104 / 10L2514 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 74% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 4 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 6%.
Travis Bazzana
Travis Bazzana
Cleveland Guardians · 0.238 hit rate · 0.619 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2516 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 92% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 10%.
Jonah Heim
Jonah Heim
Athletics · 0.091 hit rate · 0.091 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 74% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 6 games.
Zack Gelof
Zack Gelof
Athletics · 0.171 hit rate · 0.317 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2514 / 253-game hit streak
Hit rate is down 25% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games.
Angel Genao
Angel Genao
Cleveland Guardians · 0.105 hit rate · 0.105 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L102 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 65% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 6 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

83
Steven Kwan
Steven Kwan
1+ Hit
Cleveland Guardians
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled
75
Jo Adell
Jo Adell
1+ Hit
Cleveland Guardians
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
73
Travis Bazzana
Travis Bazzana
1+ Hit
Cleveland Guardians
Why it stands out
Batting 5th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
72
Jose Ramirez
Jose Ramirez
1+ Hit
Cleveland Guardians
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
70
Shea Langeliers
Shea Langeliers
1+ Hit
Athletics
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
69
Chase DeLauter
Chase DeLauter
1+ Hit
Cleveland Guardians
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Guardians bring stronger recent momentum. Athletics bring more power.

Early edge Guardians Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Elevated
  • Both probable starters grade around the 57th percentile in combined suppression.
  • Athletics are trending down; Guardians are trending up.

Storylines to Watch

Does Athletics' power tilt the game?
Athletics bring a clearly stronger extra-base profile into this matchup.
Athletics power pct 63 vs Guardians 11
Is Angel Martinez the one to watch?
Angel Martinez enters as Guardians' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 149% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 6 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 19%.
0.407 hit rate · 0.963 TB/PA · 0.220 hit rate · 0.386 TB/PA
Can Jonah Heim snap out of it?
Jonah Heim has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 74% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 6 games.
0.091 hit rate · 0.091 TB/PA · 0.189 hit rate · 0.346 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-20, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.