Cleveland Guardians vs
Milwaukee BrewersPredictions & Preview

Cleveland Guardians to Face Milwaukee Brewers in First Game of Three-Game Series, Guardians Open as Betting Favorite

On Friday evening, the Cleveland Guardians will face off against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a three-game series at American Family Field. The Guardians, leading the AL Central with a record of 72-49, will have Gavin Williams starting on the mound, while the Brewers, sitting atop the NL Central at 68-52, will have Aaron Civale as their starting pitcher. The Brewers previously won two out of three games against the Guardians earlier this season. The game is scheduled for 7:10 PM Eastern time, with Cleveland opening as the favorite according to betting odds.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Guardians -108 | Brewers -105
• Spread: Guardians -1.5 (+150) | Brewers +1.5 (-171)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cleveland will win straight-up is 52%.

Cleveland vs Milwaukee Stats

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Starter Alex Cobb earned his first win in nearly a year, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing only one earned run on three hits. Shortstop Andres Gimenez contributed with three hits and three RBIs. The Cleveland pitching staff has been strong this week, holding opponents to three runs or less in four of their previous five games. Williams will make his first appearance against the Brewers on Friday, with a 4.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his previous three starts. The team has no current injuries affecting the game. With a power ranking of 20, Cleveland ranks 12th in offense, second in defense, and holds a record of 72-49 this season.

Milwaukee Brewers Analysis

The Milwaukee Brewers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, fueled by strong pitching from starter Frankie Montas and reliever Devin Williams. Jake Bauers and Brice Turang contributed offensively in the win. Milwaukee's offense has struggled recently, scoring three runs or less in four of their last five games. Left fielder Christian Yelich remains on the injured list. The Brewers have a power ranking of 4 and are ranked 8th for offense, scoring an average of 4.83 runs per game. Defensively, they rank 4th, giving up an average of 4.00 runs per game. Overall, the Brewers have a record of 69-52. In their last three matchups, Cleveland went 2-1 against Milwaukee. Frankie Montas pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits in his lone start against Cleveland while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays last season.

Brewers Favored for Victory Against Guardians Based on Historically Strong Performance

Civale delivered a solid performance in his previous start against the Guardians, allowing just two earned runs in five innings last season. Historically, the Brewers have proven to be successful against the Guardians, winning five out of their last six matchups and two out of three in Cleveland last season. The Guardians have struggled offensively against Milwaukee, batting a mere .179 with a .257 slugging percentage in their last nine games. With multiple key offensive categories ranking in the bottom half of the league, it is unlikely that the Guardians will consistently have runners in scoring position. Furthermore, the Brewers boast a strong pitching staff this season, ranking sixth in the league with a 3.79 ERA. Based on these stats and trends, a Milwaukee victory on Saturday seems highly probable. Additionally, the Brewers have a solid track record at American Family Field, winning over 60% of their games. All signs point to a comfortable Brewers victory on Friday.

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