The Pittsburgh Pirates (62-71, 5th NL Central) are set to face off in game two of a three-game interleague series against the Cleveland Guardians (76-58, 1st AL Central) on the road. Recently, the Pirates have struggled, being swept by the Chicago Cubs and recording losses in four of their last five games. Currently, Pittsburgh finds itself 15 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central and 10 ½ games short of the final NL wildcard spot. Meanwhile, the Guardians managed a 7-5 victory over Kansas City on Thursday, breaking a losing streak after dropping the first three games in that series. Cleveland also finds itself in a slump, having lost six of their last nine contests. The Pirates will be without seven pitchers and several key position players, including Ke’Bryan Hayes, Andrew McCutchen, Rowdy Tellez, Joey Bart, and Endy Rodriguez. Cleveland faces a similar challenge, missing seven pitchers.
Pittsburgh’s Offensive Woes and Slight Pitching Edge
Currently, the Pittsburgh Pirates rank 22nd in overall runs scored (560), 23rd in batting average (.236), and 25th in both on-base percentage (.303) and slugging percentage (.375). Bryan Reynolds stands out as the team’s power hitter, leading with 21 home runs, while also topping the team in runs batted in (RBI) with 74 and hits with 146. Following closely is Oneil Cruz, who has 18 home runs and 65 RBI. The Pirates feature a total of 10 players with RBI totals ranging from 23 to 74. To date, they have accumulated 197 doubles, 16 triples, and 132 home runs, totaling 345 extra-base hits across 133 games.
On the pitching side, Pittsburgh ranks 5th in Quality Starts (57) and holds a 15th place ERA at 4.11. However, they sit 22nd in WHIP (1.30) and 25th in batting average allowed (.250). Mitch Keller leads the team with 11 wins and 138 strikeouts, posting an ERA of 3.84. The Pirates will turn to Luis Ortiz for Saturday’s game; Ortiz has a record of 5-4, an ERA of 3.36, and has struck out 83 batters this season.
Cleveland’s Balanced Approach with Strong Pitching
The Cleveland Guardians are currently 13th in runs scored (608) and rank 18th in on-base percentage (.309). They also hold the 13th spot in both slugging percentage (.393) and batting average (.237). Star third baseman Jose Ramirez leads the Guardians with 33 home runs and 104 RBI, followed by Josh Naylor, who has contributed 28 home runs and 94 RBI. Cleveland boasts a solid lineup, with 11 players registering between 21 and 104 RBI. To date, they have notched 203 doubles, 16 triples, and 152 home runs, accumulating 371 extra-base hits in 134 games.
On the mound, Cleveland excels, ranking 5th in batting average allowed (.234), 8th in WHIP (1.23), and 10th in ERA (3.84), although they sit 29th in Quality Starts (34). Ben Lively leads the Guardians with 11 wins, while Tanner Bibee tops the team with 156 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.65. Matthew Boyd will take the mound for Cleveland on Saturday, holding a record of 1-0 with an impressive ERA of 2.70 and 12 strikeouts in his limited appearances this season.
Key Insights for Pirates vs. Guardians Betting
Recent trends show Pittsburgh struggling, losing four of their last five games, nine of their last ten on the road, and 12 of the last 18 when facing Cleveland away from home. The Guardians, leading the American League Central, have heightened motivation to win, as the Pirates lag over 10 games behind the final NL wildcard position. Cleveland boasts a 10th place ERA (3.84) compared to Pittsburgh’s 15th (4.11). At the plate, Cleveland ranks 13th in runs scored (608), while Pittsburgh is 22nd (560). Starting pitcher Luis Ortiz has faced difficulties in recent outings, yielding 16 runs and 22 hits, including eight home runs in his last five starts, contributing to Pittsburgh’s struggles. Conversely, Cleveland’s Matthew Boyd has won all three of his appearances this season, allowing just five runs and ten hits over 16.2 innings pitched.
