Former Guardian Owen Miller was back in Cleveland for the first time since being traded back in December. Miller was 0 for 3 last night, and on the season is batting .280 with four home runs.
With Shane Bieber exiting the game in the 6th inning, the Guardians once again are looking for a quality start to give the bullpen some rest. The Guards have had only one quality start, from Aaron Civale on Tuesday, in the past 10 starts. Tanner Bibee looks to stop that streak today as he is on the bump.
David Fry had a career day nine days ago in San Diego and has not started since, only seeing four at-bats, and going 2 for 4 in those at-bats. Starting Cleveland catchers during this nine-game stretch are batting 2 for 19. Fry is deserving of more starts.
Cleveland entered the weekend on a winning streak of four games, positioning themselves just one game behind the top spot. This impressive run has the potential to propel them back to the highest rank. Interestingly, despite their offense ranking 27th in runs per game this season, they managed to score 28 runs in those four games. Coincidentally, the Guardians are in dire need of more offensive production, particularly in the home run department, as they currently have the fewest home runs in the league. While Cleveland excels in avoiding strikeouts, they struggle to make solid contact, owning the lowest hard-hit rate among all teams.
Throughout most of the season, Cleveland’s pitching has been consistently strong, reflected in their eighth-ranked ERA. Their bullpen, in particular, stands out as one of the two units with a sub-3.00 ERA heading into the weekend. Tanner Bibee’s primary goal is to maintain a lead when he takes the mound. Although Bibee needs to work on reducing his walk rate and improving his ability to make solid contact, his first ten starts in Major League Baseball have yielded decent results. Notably, he has performed well at home, boasting a 2.57 ERA in five starts at Progressive Field.
It’s a familiar tale in Milwaukee, although the team may have changed, the storyline remains the same. A series of losses has paved the way for another team to claim the top spot in the NL Central. Their quest to regain control of the division takes them to Cleveland, where they will require greater offensive consistency. The Brewers currently rank 26th in runs per game this season, boasting the second-lowest batting average in all of MLB. Their struggle is compounded by a 28th-place ranking in strikeout rate, further hindering their offensive efforts. Moreover, when playing on the road, the Brewers’ offensive statistics tend to decline, which is a luxury they cannot afford at this crucial juncture.
Fortunately, pitching has not been as much of a concern for the team, as they currently hold the 14th rank in ERA. In this particular game, Freddy Peralta will be given the opportunity to lead the team to victory. However, Peralta’s performance on the road has been subpar, evidenced by his 6.04 ERA in five away starts. The team has only managed to secure one win in his previous four road outings. Peralta’s struggles are exacerbated by a career-worst home run rate, which further hampers his effectiveness. While the Brewers’ bullpen is respectable, it may not consistently provide the support needed to bail Peralta out of challenging situations.
Currently, Cleveland is experiencing a surge in performance, particularly when playing at home throughout the season. On the other hand, Milwaukee’s performance has been lackluster, especially when playing away games. Considering the pitching matchup, which favors the Guardians, it is likely that they will emerge victorious in this contest. Although both teams’ offenses have not achieved remarkable results this season, the Guardians’ batters have been notably more productive in the recent lead-up to this matchup. Therefore, it is advisable to support the home team in this game.
Our Pick: Take Guardians and the Moneyline
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