The Cleveland Guardians (89-65) aim to secure their second consecutive series victory as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals (77-76) this Saturday night. The matchup is set to occur at Busch Stadium, kicking off at 7:15 PM ET.
Matthew Boyd, with a record of 2-1 and an ERA of 2.52, will start for the Guardians. The Cardinals will respond with Miles Mikolas, who holds an 8-11 record accompanied by a 5.69 ERA.
Cleveland has won 6 out of their last 10 encounters with St. Louis.
**This preview was written before Friday’s game was played**
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Guardians Eye First Place in the American League
Cleveland’s recent performance includes a series split against Tampa Bay followed by a series win over Minnesota. They clinched the AL Central title on Thursday, putting them in a tie with the Yankees for the best record in the American League. A victory on Saturday could catapult them into sole possession of first place.
The Guardians are averaging 4.42 runs per game, with a batting average of .238, ranking 20th in the league. Their on-base percentage stands at .309, while their slugging percentage is .394, both placing them 18th in the league.
Leading Cleveland’s offense, Steven Kwan boasts a .291 batting average. Meanwhile, Jose Ramirez has been a standout performer with 35 home runs and 107 RBIs.
Cleveland’s pitching staff has been impressive, allowing just 3.62 runs per game. The opposition hits at a .230 average against them, which ranks fourth in the league. Their ERA of 3.67 is fifth overall, complemented by a WHIP of 1.20, placing them third.
In his latest outing, Boyd surrendered five hits and three runs in 2.2 innings, contributing to a narrow 4-3 victory over the Twins. The Guardians will be counting on a stronger performance from him to secure a win.
Cardinals Aiming for Back-to-Back Series Wins
The Cardinals rebounded from a series loss to Toronto with a series win against Pittsburgh, marking their second consecutive home series victory. Despite being eight games behind the final NL Wildcard spot and likely out of playoff contention, they are determined to end their season on a high note, starting with a win on Saturday.
St. Louis averages 4.09 runs per game, holding a batting average of .246, which ranks 13th in the league. Their on-base percentage is at .310, while their slugging percentage is .388, placing them 21st.
Brendan Donovan leads the Cardinals with a .277 batting average, while Alec Burleson tops the team with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs.
Defensively, St. Louis has also shown strength, allowing 4.03 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .248 against them, ranking 23rd in the league. Their ERA of 4.06 is 16th, and their WHIP is 1.26, placing them 17th overall.
In his last start, Mikolas allowed three hits and two runs over five innings, leading to a 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. He will need to deliver another strong performance if the Cardinals hope to secure a victory.
Smart Betting Insights for Guardians vs. Cardinals
The Guardians have triumphed in four of their last six road games, while the Cardinals have also won four of their last six home contests. Cleveland has been more productive offensively, scoring 16 runs in their last three road outings compared to the Cardinals’ 15 runs in their last three home games.
The Guardians hold an offensive advantage, particularly against right-handed pitchers. Mikolas has struggled recently, giving up 14 runs in his last three starts, including 12 runs in his past three home appearances. This trend could hinder his ability to contain Cleveland’s lineup.
Conversely, the Cardinals may face challenges offensively against left-handers, and Boyd has performed well in recent outings, allowing only 10 runs in his last five starts. He has given up five earned runs in his last three road games, suggesting he could keep St. Louis’ offense from thriving. Opt for Cleveland to win on the money line.
