Pittsburgh Pirates vs
Cleveland GuardiansPredictions & Preview

Guardians Poised for Victory Against Struggling Pirates in Saturday Evening Matchup

The Pittsburgh Pirates (62-71) will face off against the Cleveland Guardians (76-58) on Saturday evening in the second game of their three-game series at Progressive Field. RHP Luis L. Ortiz (5-4, 3.36 ERA) will start for the Pirates, while Matthew Boyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound for the Guardians. Cleveland, currently leading the AL Central, is favored to win with a betting line of -164. Last season, the Guardians won two out of three games against the Pirates in their previous series. The game is set to begin at 6:10 PM Eastern time.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Pirates +149 | Guardians -164
• Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-145) | Guardians -1.5 (+126)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cleveland will win straight-up is 62%.

Pittsburgh vs Cleveland Stats

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates were swept by the Cubs in Chicago this week, falling in the series finale 14-10. Despite taking the lead into the ninth inning, Chicago scored six runs to complete the comeback. Reliever David Bednar suffered his seventh loss of the season, giving up five earned runs in less than an inning. Rookie starter Paul Skenes pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe both homered in the loss, with first baseman Roddy Tellez driving in two runs. Pirates pitchers have struggled recently, allowing five runs or more in three straight games. Manager Derek Shelton expressed frustration after the collapse against the Cubs. Injuries include Tellez being day-to-day with an apparent injury, while Ke'Bryan Hayes and Andrew McCutchen remain on the IL. The Pirates currently have a power ranking of 26, ranking 21st in offense and defense, with a 62-72 record this season.

Cleveland Guardians Analysis

The Cleveland Guardians avoided a series sweep by defeating the Kansas City Royals 7-5 in the series finale. Despite starter Tanner Bibee's performance, the Guardians rallied with five runs in the seventh inning to secure the win. Emmanuel Clase earned his 39th save of the season. Catcher Bo Naylor hit his 11th home run in the game. The Guardians are currently in first place in the AL Central. However, the pitching staff has struggled lately, allowing four runs or more in three of their last four games. Injuries have impacted the team, with center fielder Jason Chourio out for the season with a wrist fracture. The Guardians have a power ranking of 21 and rank 13th in offense and 5th in defense. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Guardians have a record of 0-2 with a high ERA and WHIP in relief appearances.

Guardians poised for victory against struggling Pirates in home matchup

The Guardians secured two wins against the Pirates in Pittsburgh last season, showcasing an impressive offensive performance with a .304 batting average and .574 slugging percentage. Additionally, Cleveland's pitching staff has excelled this season, ranking tenth in the league with a 3.84 ERA. On the contrary, the Pirates have struggled on the road in 2024, losing over half of their away games. Their weak offensive numbers, ranking 27th in slugging percentage at .362, suggest they will have difficulty scoring against the strong Cleveland pitching staff. Pittsburgh has been unsuccessful in their previous road series, failing to exceed four runs in six consecutive road games. With these statistics and trends in mind, it appears that the Guardians have a strong chance of securing victory at home on Saturday evening. Therefore, it may be wise to consider supporting the Guardians in this matchup.

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