3 things the Guardians need to do to win pivotal series against White Sox

Later today, the Cleveland Guardians are going to start an extremely important series against the Chicago White Sox. After taking two out of three against the Minnesota Twins this weekend, they're just a half-game behind the White Sox in the American League Central.

While the Guardians obviously want to pick up the sweep, a series win would still be a huge step in the right direction given it would push the Guardians into the division lead while also giving them the tiebreaker over the White Sox.

Here's what the Guardians need to do to pick up the series win.

The Guardians need to win their series against the White Sox this week

Get off to a hot start/score first

While the White Sox are leading the division, one of their weaknesses is giving up runs before most fans have found their seats.

Chicago pitchers have a 5.36 ERA in the first inning and have also allowed 33 homers in the first inning.

We got some tangible evidence of just how susceptible Chicago's pitching staff is on Aug. 7 when the Guardians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of an 8-2 win. That series also included another early-game outburst, but the Guardians' bullpen blew the game late.

Get at least six innings from every starter

Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, and Foster Griffin are all scheduled to start against the White Sox after the Guardians rearranged their pitching staff during their series this weekend against the Twins.

The 'big rig' is up first, and the Guardians are going to need him to flash the ace potential he's shown all season. If he wants to be the Guardians' ace, quality starts are a must. He neds to go 6+ innings with double-digit strikeouts.

Messick will start the series finale, which will be a golden opportunity for him to make a final push for American League Rookie of the Year.

He's been nails all season and has no problem going six innings all year (even when he's gotten limited run support). He could help pitch the Guardians to a win even if the offense takes the day off.

To say Griffin's last start was disastrous would be an understatement. The Guardians acquired him at the trade deadline with the hopes that he'd help fortify their rotation, and he couldn't make it out of the third inning against Baltimore.

He has a great chance to put that in the rearview with his start in start in Game 2 of the series. He's only managed to go six innings in two starts since the Guardians traded for him, but he flashed top-of-the-rotation stuff during his time with Washington.

Get another signature moment (or two) from Brayan Rocchio

Time and time again Rocchio has come up clutch in the biggest moments for the Guardians, so it seems like it's going to be a matter of time until he has another signature moment this week.

He began the month with his walk-off against the Tigers, and now he can truly stake his 'Rocctember' claim with a great series against the White Sox.

The best chance the Guardians have to win this series is if Rocchio provides them with his signature production at the bottom of the order. He seems comfortable hitting against the White Sox (.289 average against Chicago pitching this season), and already has one walk-off homer against them this season.

Winning this series won't be easy, but the Guardians should be in good shape if Rocchio and the rotation can help carry the load.

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