Shane Bieber is back off the IL and starting on Friday night for the Guardians. Bieber’s last start was on July 9th a loss against the Royals.
Earlier this week, Cleveland released reliever Matt Moore who was picked up by the Miami Marlins. Michael Kelly took his place on the roster.
On Thursday night, Trevor Stephan gave up two more earned runs in the 8th inning and currently in the month of September, Stephan has an ERA of 13.50.
The 2023 season began with high hopes and expectations for the Cleveland Guardians. However, plagued by injuries and inconsistency, they dropped out of the playoff contention a month before the season’s end. Currently, they hold a 5-5 record in their last 10 games overall. Their performance in the past 24 home games has been equally unremarkable, with a 12-12 record.
Facing teams with a winning record since the break, they have struggled, holding a 19-21 record in 40 games. Despite a significant upset to start this series, they aim to play the role of spoiler once again this Friday.
In a heartening development, veteran star Shane Bieber returns to the mound for Cleveland after being sidelined since July. This marks only his 20th start of the year, following his exceptional 2022 season. In his previous 19 starts, Bieber has recorded a 5-6 record with a 3.77 ERA. While the season is essentially over for them, Bieber’s determination to return to the mound for what is likely his second-to-last appearance in 2023 is commendable. If he can return to top form, he will have the opportunity to challenge a formidable Orioles lineup.
The 2023 Baltimore Orioles season has been a thrilling journey. Despite a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, they maintain a 1.5-game lead in the American League East over Tampa Bay, with only nine games left to play. Impressively, the Orioles have excelled on the road in their past 12 games, boasting a remarkable 9-3 record. Additionally, they’ve dominated teams with records below .500, going 11-5 in their last 16 matchups against such opponents. This series despite the loss last night against Cleveland presents a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the AL East race.
Taking the mound for Baltimore is the promising young right-hander, Dean Kremer. He’s enjoying the best season of his professional career, with a 12-5 record and a 4.17 ERA. While he may not be considered dominant, Kremer consistently gives the Orioles a chance to win whenever he pitches. Over his last 10 starts, he allowed more than three runs in just one game, and in five of those starts, he surrendered only one run or less. Facing a struggling Guardians lineup in 2023, Kremer has the potential to heat up as the playoffs approach.
Despite their upset victory in the first game of this pivotal late-season series, the Orioles enter this matchup as slight favorites. Given Baltimore’s 6-4 record in their last ten head-to-head meetings, this shouldn’t be surprising.
Furthermore, the Orioles have demonstrated superior performance compared to Cleveland recently, securing victories on the road against playoff-caliber teams. With Dean Kremer boasting a remarkable 9-1 record in his last ten starts, the Orioles are poised for a significant rebound and are on track to move one step closer to clinching the AL East championship.
Our Pick: Take Orioles and the Money Line
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