The Baltimore Orioles will begin a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday at Progressive Field. It's a possible American League Championship preview as we share our MLB odds series and make an Orioles-Guardians prediction and pick.
Orioles-Guardians Projected Starters
Dean Kremer vs. Ben Lively
Dean Kremer (4-7) with a 4.20 ERA
Last Start: Kremer went six innings in his last outing, allowing four runs, one earned, seven hits, striking out seven, and walking one in a loss to the San Diego Padres.
2024 Road Splits: Kremer is 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA over seven starts on the road.
Ben Lively (9-6) with a 3.44 ERA
Last Start: Lively went six innings in his last outing, allowing one earned run, three hits, striking out six and walking two in a win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
2024 Home Splits: Lively has been good at home, going 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA over seven starts at Progressive Field.
Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Orioles-Guardians Odds
Baltimore Orioles: -1.5 (+136)
Moneyline: -108
Cleveland Guardians: +1.5 (-164)
Moneyline: -108
Over: 9.5 (-102)
Under: 9.5 (-120)
How to Watch Orioles vs. Guardians
Time: 6:40 PM ET/3:40 PM PT
TV: MASN
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Orioles Will Cover The Spread/Win
For a month, the Orioles have been the best team in the American League, or at least competing for it with the Guardians. Amazingly, they have managed to hold off the New York Yankees, who have been right on their heels. They look to keep their momentum going as they unleash a batting order that can make some strides. Ultimately, they will have one of the top prospects in baseball for this series.
Jackson Holliday is coming back to the big-league roster after debuting earlier this season. While he struggled earlier in the season, he looks to do much better this time around. Gunnar Henderson is the leadoff hitter and has done well against the Guardians. So far, he is batting .318 with three home runs, nine RBIs, and 11 runs over 12 games in his career against them. Adley Rutschman is another talented player. Amazingly, he hit .565 with 13 hits, three RBIs, and five runs over six games against the Guardians last season.
Anthony Santander remains one of the most powerful bats in the lineup. Also, he is hitting .268 with five home runs, 25 RBIs, and 12 runs over 30 games against the Guardians. The O's look ready to unleash Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O'Hearn. Overall, both hitters can rake, and have been able to slug the baseball out of the yard.
Kremer has struggled to get a quality start lately, not notching one since May 5. Therefore, he must figure it out as he faces a lineup that has the potential to strike fast. When Kremer finishes, he will turn it over to a bullpen that has been inconsistent, ranking 14th in team ERA. Craig Kimbrel is the closer and is 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA and 23 saves in 29 chances.
‘The Orioles will cover the spread if their top hitters can generate some big innings and get off to a good start. Then, they need Kremer to avoid getting into too much trouble.
Why The Guardians Will Cover The Spread/Win
Few expected the Guardians to be the best team in the American League at this point. Remarkably, they have consistently gotten themselves into the win column and continued to take strides. The offense has been stellar, and looks to continue swinging the baseball.
Steven Kwan is the ultimate machine at the top of the lineup. Yet, he has struggled against the Orioles, batting just .210 with 13 hits, five RBIs, and eight runs over 15 games in his career against them. Jose Ramirez remains one of the best hitters in the game. Furthermore, he has done well against Baltimore, hitting .300 with 57 hits, nine home runs, 28 RBIs, and 34 runs over 51 games against them. Josh Naylor remains a strong piece of the lineup. He is batting .250 with eight hits, one home run, 10 RBIs, and seven runs over 10 games.
Lively has been inconsistent lately, getting a quality start in just three of his six outings. Now, he will have to contend with a tough lineup. Lively has the benefit of turning it over to the best bullpen in baseball. Emmanuel Chase remains an elite closer, with a record of 4-1 with a 0.72 ERA and 33 saves in 36 chances.
The Guardians will cover the spread if their top hitters can continue battering the baseball. Then, they need Lively to liven it up and find his spots.
Final Orioles-Guardians Prediction & Pick
The Guardians took two of three from the Orioles in Baltimore in June. Now, they hope to continue winning against the O's and maintain their top spot. The teams split the four games at Progressive Field last season. Additionally, the Orioles are one of the best teams in the majors at covering the spread, while the Guardians are average at best. The Orioles are also 30-20 against the run line on the road. Meanwhile, the Guardians are just 22-26 at home against the run line. But we expect this to be a close game, with the Guardians covering the run line.
Click here for more betting news and predictions
Final Orioles-Guardians Prediction & Pick: Cleveland Guardians: +1.5 (-164)
Follow Us
Subscribe
