Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction MLB Picks 9/1/24

Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview

The Cleveland Guardians are 77-59 this year and they have won two of their last three games. Cleveland won game one in this series by a score of 10-8, but did lose game two. Prior to this series, the Guardians lost three out of four against the Royals, won two out of three against the Rangers, and lost two out of three against the Yankees. Cleveland is 4-7 in their last 11 games and they are first in the AL Central. 

The Cleveland pitching staff has a 3.87 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a .235 opponent batting average. The Guardians offense has scored 618 runs with a .238 batting average and a .309 on base percentage. Jose Ramirez is batting .274 with 33 home runs and 104 RBI’s for the Guardians this season. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, who is 11-8 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 152.1 innings pitched this year. Keller has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his last four starts. The projected starting pitcher for Cleveland is Alex Cobb, who is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP over 10.1 innings pitched this season. Cobb has allowed five earned runs and 12 hits over two starts against the Cubs and Twins. 

Why the Guardians will beat the Pirates

• The Pirates have lost six of their last seven day games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Guardians have won six of their last seven home games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games following a win.
• The Guardians have covered the run line in eight of their last nine Sunday games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.

Total Runs Facts

• Six of the Pirates' last seven games as underdogs against the Guardians have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Four of the Guardians' last five day games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Josh Naylor has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Guardians' last nine home games against NL Central opponents.
• Andres Gimenez has recorded a hit in each of his last five appearances in day games against NL teams that held a losing record.
• Steven Kwan has scored at least one run in 12 of his last 14 appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Alex Cobb has recorded five or more strikeouts in seven of his last nine appearances with his team as a home favorite against NL opponents.
• Lane Thomas has recorded a Single in each of his last four appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
• Jose Ramirez has hit at least one home run in six of the Guardians' last 16 games as favorites.
• Alex Cobb has recorded a win in each of his last four home appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Josh Naylor has recorded a Double in each of the Guardians' last three games as home favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Josh Naylor has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Guardians' last three games as home favorites.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has scored at least one run in each of the Pirates' last five games.
• Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances against AL opponents.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 road appearances against AL Central opponents.
• Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one Single in each of the Pirates' last six games.
• Mitch Keller has recorded seven or more strikeouts in each of his last seven appearances with the Pirates as road underdogs against AL opponents.
• Joey Bart has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 12 appearances with his team as an underdog against the Guardians.
• Mitch Keller has recorded a win in five of his last six appearances with the Pirates as underdogs against AL opponents.
• Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Double in four of the Pirates' last five games against AL Central opponents.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction 

Cleveland dropped game two in this series on Saturday and they could really use a win here, as the Royals and Twins are closing in on them in the AL Central. The Guardians are 42-25 at home this year, while the Pirates are 31-36 on the road. Cleveland is activating Alex Cobb from the IL for this start and he has been decent in limited work this year. Pittsburgh is going with Mitch Keller, who has been extremely inconsistent recently and I do not trust him on the road here. Take the Guardians to win by at least two runs.