The Milwaukee Brewers (70-52) aim to clinch the series victory against the Cleveland Guardians (72-50) in the decisive game of their three-game interleague matchup on Sunday afternoon. This contest will unfold at American Family Field, with the first pitch set for 2:10 PM ET.
Colin Rea, boasting a record of 10-4 and a 3.72 ERA, is slated to take the mound for the Brewers. The Guardians will respond with Ben Lively, who holds a record of 10-7 and an ERA of 3.71.
Historically, Milwaukee has performed well against Cleveland, winning 7 of the last 10 matchups.
**This analysis is based on data prior to Saturday’s game.**
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Cleveland’s Quest for American League Supremacy
The Guardians recently saw their five-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Brewers in the opening game of this series, leaving them one game behind the New York Yankees for the top seed in the American League. Cleveland will look to regain a share of the best record in the AL with a crucial win on Sunday.
Currently, the Guardians are scoring an average of 4.61 runs per game. Their .240 batting average ranks 18th in Major League Baseball, and their .310 on-base percentage is 17th, while they slug .400, placing them 16th.
Leading the team offensively, Steven Kwan boasts a .320 batting average, while star player Jose Ramirez tops the charts with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Cleveland’s pitching staff has been quite effective, allowing an average of just 3.70 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .234 against the Guardians, marking them fifth in the league. Their ERA of 3.76 ranks sixth, and their WHIP stands at 1.22, also sixth best in MLB.
In his latest outing, Lively surrendered five hits and three runs over 3.2 innings during a high-scoring 9-8 victory against the Cubs. A stronger performance will be essential for Cleveland to secure a win.
Milwaukee’s Home Advantage
The Brewers have followed up their recent series win over the Reds with a split against the Dodgers, resulting in four victories across their last seven home games. After taking the first game of the current series, they seek to capture their second home series win in the past three tries this Sunday.
Milwaukee is averaging 4.84 runs per game, with a .254 batting average that ranks eighth in the league. Their on-base percentage of .332 is third best, while their slugging percentage of .406 places them 13th.
William Contreras leads the Brewers with a .284 batting average. Meanwhile, Willy Adames stands out with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs, making significant contributions to the team’s offensive efforts.
On the pitching side, Milwaukee is allowing just 3.68 runs per game. Their opponents are hitting .241 against them, placing them 16th in the league. The Brewers’ ERA of 3.71 ranks third, while their WHIP of 1.25 is 13th overall.
In his last start, Rea struggled, giving up 10 hits and seven runs over six innings, leading to a 7-2 defeat against the Dodgers. A marked improvement will be necessary for the Brewers to emerge victorious in this matchup.
Strategic Bets for Guardians vs. Brewers Showdown
The Guardians have claimed victory in five of their last six games. Aside from their initial game in this series, their offense has been impressive, scoring five or more runs in three of their previous four contests. Given Rea’s recent struggles on the mound, surrendering nine runs over his last three starts, it may be challenging for Milwaukee to contain Cleveland’s offensive surge.
Meanwhile, the Brewers have divided their last six games evenly. They also have shown offensive prowess, netting 16 runs in their last three outings. However, Lively’s recent away performances have been strong, allowing only three runs in his last two starts. With Cleveland’s bullpen being one of the best in the league, they are likely to keep Milwaukee’s offense under control. A bet on Cleveland to cover the money line seems reasonable.
