Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago Predictions July 1, 2023: T. Bibee vs M. Stroman
The Cleveland Guardians (39-41) and Chicago Cubs (37-42) will be meeting up for the second game of their three-game interleague series on Saturday night. Guardians' starting
Game outlook
The Cleveland Guardians (39-41) and Chicago Cubs (37-42) will be meeting up for the second game of their three-game interleague series on Saturday night. Guardians' starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (4-2, 3.79 ERA) will face off against the Cubs' Marcus Stroman (9-5, 2.47 ERA). This rivalry between both teams has been fairly balanced, as they have split their last 10 meetings. Fans are in for an exciting game, as the Cubs are the betting favorite opening at -134 and the current line is Chicago -139. Guardians will be hoping to pick up their second consecutive series win while Cubs will be aiming to redeem the recent defeats. This preview was written before the first game on Friday, so expect some changes in the final matchup. Game will commence on Saturday, 7/1/2023 at Wrigley Field stadium at 7:15pm EST.
Chicago Cubs Look to Rebound in Match Against the Guardians
The Chicago Cubs have experienced a recent dip in performance, losing their last four matches following a four-game winning streak. However, the team is looking to bounce back against the Guardians in an attempt to capture their fifth victory among the previous nine games. Offensively, the team has yielded above average output with an average of 4.54 runs per game and a .247 batting average (17th overall). Concerning their on base percentage (.327), the Cubs place 10th in the league while the slugging rate has them at 17th (.399). Chicago has been led by Nico Hoerner whose .284 batting average and 40 RBI have set the tone, with Patrick Wisdom presently owning the team lead in home runs (14). On the defensive side, the Cubs sit with a 4.25 runs per game average and have managed to limit opponents to a .241 batting average (14th in the league). The team’s ERA (3.97) and WHIP (1.26) are both the 13th best in the game. In his last start, Marcus Stroman was roughed up for eight hits and six runs in 3.1 innings, leading to a 7-5 loss to St. Louis. It is likely that the Cubs will need improved performance from Stroman if they intend to acquire a victory. Finally, Seiya Suzuki is questionable for the game due to a neck injury.