The Pittsburgh Pirates (63-72) travel to face off against the Cleveland Guardians (77-59) on Sunday, September 1st. This game will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland and televised on SN PT. The Pirates are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Guardians are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pirates. First pitch is set for 12:40 CT.
Pirates vs. Guardians Betting Prediction
- Money Line Prediction: Guardians (-149)
- Over/Under Prediction: Over 8 Runs
- The Guardians have scored an average of 5.6 runs per game in their last 5 home games.
- The Guardians have won 4 of their last 5 home games.
- The Guardians have a higher home win percentage (.627) compared to the Pirates’ away win percentage (.463).
- The Guardians have outscored their opponents by an average of 2.4 runs in their last 5 home wins.
- The Guardians have a better overall record (77-59) compared to the Pirates (63-72).
Pirates vs Guardians
Pittsburgh picked up a 3-0 win over the Guardians in the most recent game of this series. The Pirates offense got off to a fast start, scoring all three of their runs in the first two innings. On the other side, the Guardians were held in check, getting on the board with just one run in the 4th inning.
Luis L. Ortiz started for the Pirates and picked up the win, going six innings and not giving up a run. He finished the game with five strikeouts but issued three walks. As for the Guardians, Matthew Boyd got the start and took the loss, giving up one earned run in six innings of work.
Pittsburgh was led at the plate by Nick Gonzales, who went 3/5 with two runs scored. Both Oneil Cruz and Rowdy Tellez each drove in two runs for the Pirates’ offense.
As underdogs, the Pirates have a 36-48 record, while as favorites, they are 27-24. Their overall series record is 18-20-5, and their run line record is 75-60. On the road, they have a 41-26 run line record, with a scoring margin of -0.1 runs per game.
Pittsburgh is currently 16.5 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, with a 63-72 overall record. They are tied for 4th in the division with the Reds. The Pirates’ games have averaged 8.8 runs this season, and their over/under record is 66-67.
Mitch Keller Gets The Start For The Pirates
Pittsburgh is sending Mitch Keller to the mound today as he faces the Guardians on the road. The right-hander has made 26 starts this year and has a record of 11-8 with a 3.84 ERA. Keller’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.24. In his last outing, he took the loss, going four innings and giving up three earned runs on seven hits. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Keller has allowed at least two home runs in three of his last four outings. This year, he has one complete game and 13 quality starts.
Pirates Offense Breakdown
Over the past nine games, Bryan Reynolds has been swinging a hot bat for the Pirates, going 11/35 with two homers and five RBIs. This has pushed his season-long batting average to .282, and his 21 homers are the best mark on the team and 15th in the league. Oneil Cruz is also swinging a hot bat for the Pirates, as he has gone 16/37 in his last nine games.
As a team, the Pirates are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. Their team batting average of .237 is 15th in the league, and they are also one of the league’s worst teams in terms of striking out. Heading into the game, Yasmani Grandal and Andrew McCutchen are both on solid hitting streaks.
As the home favorite, Cleveland is 37-18 straight up this season, and their games have averaged 8.6 runs. Their over/under record is 65-62, with the average total line being 8 runs. The Guardians’ overall run line record is 67-69, including 32-35 at home.
The Guardians are 77-59 overall and have a 2.5-game lead in the AL Central over the Royals. They have a 24-14-5 series record this year. In their games, Cleveland’s average margin of victory is 3.3 runs, while their average margin of defeat is 3.2 runs.
Alex Cobb Gets The Start For The Guardians
Getting the start for the Guardians is Alex Cobb, who is coming off a win in his last outing. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 3 against the Cubs. Cobb took the loss in his first start of the season, going 4 2/3 innings and giving up 4 runs on 9 hits.
Guardians Offense Breakdown
For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. They have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.9 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .238, which is 14th in the league, and their team BABIP of .27 is the worst in the MLB. However, they have been good at not striking out, as they are 3rd in the league in fewest strikeouts.
Josh Naylor comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak and is batting .241 for the season. He has gone 7/20 in his last five games, driving in six runs. Jose Ramirez and Naylor are the Guardians’ top home run hitters this season, with 33 and 28 homers, respectively. Ramirez’s 104 RBIs is 2nd in the league, and Naylor is 3rd with 98 RBIs.
Pirates vs Guardians Prediction
With the Guardians at home, we see them coming away with a 6-4 win over the Pirates. Given that they are -149 on the money line, this is the way we recommend playing this one.
Looking at the starting pitchers, Alex Cobb is a great option to pick up the win, and we also like his strikeout numbers compared to Mitch Keller. Keller is projected to finish with five K’s, while Cobb is predicted to record six.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:September 1, 2024 Guardians, Pirates