Cleveland Guardians vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros Favored to Dominate Cleveland Guardians in Second Game of Series

The Cleveland Guardians will be facing off against the Houston Astros in the second game of their three-game series, with the Guardians looking to avoid their second consecutive road series loss. Joey Cantillo, with a 1-0 record and 3.41 ERA, will be starting for the Guardians, while Hunter Brown, with a 9-3 record and 1.83 ERA, will be on the mound for the Astros. Houston holds an 8-2 advantage in their last 10 games against Cleveland. The Astros are the favorites in this matchup with the betting line opening at -200 and currently at Houston -191. Please note that this preview was written prior to Monday's game being played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Guardians +169 | Astros -191
• Spread: Guardians +1.5 (-130) | Astros -1.5 (+112)
• Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 66%.

Cleveland vs Houston Stats

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians are currently experiencing a significant slump, losing 11 of their last 12 games and dropping to fourth place in the AL Central standings. Despite their struggles, they are focused on turning things around before the All-Star break, starting with a win on Tuesday. Cleveland's offensive performance has been subpar, with averages of 3.56 runs per game, .224 batting average, .295 on base percentage, and .361 slugging percentage. Steven Kwan leads the team in batting average, while Jose Ramirez leads in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Guardians are giving up an average of 4.22 runs per game, with opponents batting .249 against them. Cantillo recently had a strong performance in relief, but the team ultimately lost. Currently ranked 41-47 this season with a power ranking of 29, Cleveland is ranked 26th in offense and 15th in defense.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros have been performing well in the past month, winning their last five series. They currently have the third-best record in the league, trailing the Dodgers by one game and Detroit by two games. The team will be looking to capitalize on the struggling Guardians in order to climb in the league standings with a win on Tuesday.

Houston's offense ranks 16th in the league, averaging 4.40 runs per game, with a .261 batting average that is the best in the league. Their on-base percentage of .326 is seventh, and their slugging percentage of .412 is eighth. Jeremy Pena leads the team with a .322 batting average, while Isaac Paredes leads in home runs and RBI.

Defensively, the Astros are giving up 3.61 runs per game, which is second in the league. Their opponents have a .223 batting average against them, leading the league in this category. The team's ERA of 3.48 is fifth, and their WHIP of 1.16 also leads the league.

In their last encounter with the Guardians, pitcher Brown gave up four hits and one run while striking out nine batters in 5.1 innings, leading to a 5-3 win for the Astros. Overall, the Houston Astros have a power ranking of 3 and a record of 55-36. Cleveland has recently gone 1-2 in their last three matchups against Houston.

Houston Astros Dominate as Cleveland Guardians Struggle: Favorable Matchup Ahead

The Houston Astros have shown strong performance, winning 11 of their last 13 games, while the Cleveland Guardians have struggled, losing 11 of their last 12 games. Houston's success against left-handers and their upcoming match against a struggling Cleveland pitching staff highlight them as the favorable choice. In contrast, Cleveland's recent offensive struggles, particularly against right-handers, and their upcoming encounter with Brown, a consistent performer on the mound, suggest they will face challenges. Brown allowed only one run when facing Cleveland previously, and with Houston's strong bullpen support, the Guardians are likely to struggle offensively. Taking Houston on the run line appears to be a prudent decision in this situation.

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