Cleveland Guardians vs
St. Louis CardinalsPredictions & Preview

Cleveland Guardians Look to Clinch Division Title in Matchup Against St. Louis Cardinals

This weekend features a significant baseball matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Guardians, with a record of 89-65, will have Ben Lively on the mound, while the Cardinals, with a record of 77-76, will have Kyle Gibson pitching. The game is set to take place at 8:15 ET at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO. St. Louis is currently the favorite to win, with the betting line opening at -112 and currently at -110.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Guardians +100 | Cardinals -110
• Spread: Guardians +1.5 (-206) | Cardinals -1.5 (+175)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that St. Louis will win straight-up is 52%.

Cleveland vs St. Louis Stats

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians have exceeded expectations this season and have dominated the A.L. Central, winning five of their last six games and holding a 6.5-game lead in the division. Most recently, they secured a playoff spot with a walk-off victory over the Minnesota Twins. The team is currently +1000 to win the World Series, with the fifth-shortest odds in the market. In their most recent game, a 3-2 win over the Twins, Andres Gimenez drove in the winning run with a walk-off single in the 10th inning. The starting pitcher for Friday's game is Ben Lively, who has a 12-9 record with a 3.87 ERA and 1.23 WHIP this season. The Guardians are ranked 14th in offense, 3rd in defense, and have a record of 89-65.

St. Louis Cardinals Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals have struggled to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the competition in the N.L. Central this season, currently sitting 11.0 games behind the first-place Brewers with a record of 77-76. Their recent series against the Pirates saw them take three out of four games, with standout performances from players such as Brendan Donovan. Pitcher Kyle Gibson will take the mound in their upcoming matchup, boasting a 4.11 ERA and 144 strikeouts this season. Despite their offensive struggles, the Cardinals have a power ranking of 15 and rank 24th in scoring. In their last three matchups, they went 1-2 against Cleveland.

Cleveland Guardians in Position to Clinch Division Title with Playoff Berth Secure

The Cleveland Guardians secured a playoff berth on Thursday afternoon, with their focus now shifting towards clinching their division title. With a magic number of three entering the weekend, the Guardians have the opportunity to solidify their championship status within the next few days. Despite facing the disappointing St. Louis Cardinals, led by the inconsistent 36-year-old Kyle Gibson, the Guardians are favored to win their sixth game in seven tries. Pitcher Ben Lively has shown strong performances in his last two starts, while Cleveland boasts the best bullpen in baseball, ranked first in both ERA (2.64) and WHIP (1.04). Given these factors, the Guardians are the smart choice to emerge victorious in tonight's matchup, especially at their current favorable money line price.

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