Guardians Favored to Win in Pitching Duel Against Athletics: Friday Night Matchup Preview
In Friday night's matchup, the Cleveland Guardians will be facing off against the Oakland Athletics in the second game of their four-game series at Oakland Coliseum. Logan
Game outlook
In Friday night's matchup, the Cleveland Guardians will be facing off against the Oakland Athletics in the second game of their four-game series at Oakland Coliseum. Logan Allen will be starting for the Guardians, coming off a 7-8 record last season with a 3.81 ERA, while Ross Stripling will be on the mound for the Athletics, with a 0-5 record and 5.36 ERA in the previous season. Cleveland has a strong track record against Oakland, winning 8 of their last 10 meetings. The Guardians are favored to win, opening at -135 in the betting odds. Please note that this preview was written before Thursday's game.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Guardians -135 | Athletics +124
Spread: Guardians -1.5 (+123) | Athletics +1.5 (-142)
Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cleveland will win straight-up is 57%.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians won the AL Central in 2022 after finishing third in the division the previous season. Their pitching was strong, but they struggled offensively, leading to a loss of games. They made changes to their pitching staff in the offseason, adding Scott Barlow and Ben Lively while hoping for a return to form from Carlos Carrasco. However, their offensive shortcomings were not fully addressed, with few additions made in that area. Cleveland's offensive statistics were below average last season, with Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor standing out as top performers. Defensively, the team performed well, giving up an average of 3.93 runs per game. Cleveland is currently ranked 27th in offense, 9th in defense, and has started the season with a 1-0 record. Their overall power ranking is 19th.