Cleveland Guardians vs Baltimore Orioles Picks and Predictions August 2nd 2024

Carlos Carrasco and the Cleveland Guardians (66-42) will host the Baltimore Orioles (65-45) on Friday, with the game set to get started at 7:10 PM ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Baltimore is starting Dean Kremer. The Guardians are on a four-game winning streak and are 1st in the AL Central, while the Orioles are 1st in the AL East.

Despite being the underdog on the money line (+106), the Guardians have the slight edge in the over/under department, with the line currently at 9 runs. The Orioles are favored on the money line (-125). MASN will be televising this AL matchup.

Watch this matchup’s last game highlights!

Baltimore vs. Cleveland Key Information

• Teams: Orioles at Guardians
• Where: Progressive Field Cleveland
• Date: Friday, August 2nd
• Betting Odds BAL -125 | CLE +106 O/U 9

The Orioles Can Win If…

Right-hander Dean Kremer is getting the start for the Orioles today as he faces the Guardians on the road. He has made 14 starts this season and has a record of 4-7 with an ERA of 4.20. Kremer’s WHIP for the season is 1.23, and he has issued 3.48 walks per nine innings compared to 8.76 strikeouts. The last time he pitched, Kremer took the loss, giving up one earned run in six innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight outings. So far, he has made four quality starts this season.

Not only do the Orioles lead the league in home runs, but they are also the top team in terms of slugging percentage and OPS. As a team, they are averaging 5.1 runs per game and have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Baltimore also has the league’s top isolated power figure, at .199.

Anthony Santander has been a big reason for the Orioles’ offensive success, as his 32 homers are the 2nd most in the league, and he is 8th in the MLB with 74 RBIs. He has also been hot of late, going 8/20 in his last five games with three homers. Gunnar Henderson is also having a strong season, batting .287 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs.

• The Orioles are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Orioles are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Baltimore has an over/under record of 9-1 in their last ten games.
• The Orioles have an average of 6.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Orioles are 5-5
• Looking back across the Orioles last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Baltimore has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Orioles have averaged 5.2 runs per game on offense

The Guardians Can Win If…

Carlos Carrasco is looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Phillies, as he gets the start for the Guardians today. In that start, which came on July 27th, he took the loss after going just 3 2/3 innings. Carrasco gave up six earned runs on six hits in the outing. Looking back over his last three starts, he has given up at least two homers in each outing. Carrasco’s record for the season is 3-9, and his ERA is 5.68. Opposing batters are hitting .273 off Carrasco this season.

Jose Ramirez has been red hot for the Guardians of late, going 8/17 in his last five games with four homers and eight RBIs. Overall, he is batting .278 with 28 homers and 90 RBIs, which is 2nd in the league. Josh Naylor is also having a good season at the plate, as his 23 homers is 8th in the league, and he is batting .245.

As a team, the Guardians are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 13th in the MLB. They have been a good home run-hitting team this season and are among the league leaders in team slugging percentage. Cleveland is also near the top of the MLB in terms of fewest strikeouts per game.

• The Guardians are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Guardians are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Cleveland has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Guardians have an average of 5.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Guardians are 5-5
• Looking back across the Guardians last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Cleveland has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Guardians have averaged 2.9 runs per game on offense

Today’s game between the Orioles and Guardians has the 7th highest combined run projection and 5th highest combined hits projection. Our lean would be towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we have our lean on the Orioles to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, Dean Kremer has the 4th best odds to work deep into the game, while Carlos Carrasco is projected to have a short outing for the Guardians.

Orioles Try Again to Tame Jose Ramirez, Guardians

The Baltimore Orioles are gearing up to take on the red-hot Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of their four-game series on Friday night. The Guardians, driven by Ramirez’s impressive power surge, claimed the series opener with a decisive 10-3 victory.

Jose Ramirez’s Power Surge

Jose Ramirez has been on fire at the plate:

• Recent Performance: Ramirez smashed his fourth homer in three games on Thursday, continuing his incredible streak.
• Historical Context: He has homered in four consecutive games once before, from July 25-28, 2019.
• Manager’s Praise: Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt can’t stop raving about Ramirez, highlighting the excitement and special moments he brings to each at-bat.

Guardians’ Recent Success

The Guardians are riding a wave of success lately:

• Team Performance: Cleveland has won four straight games and seven of their last nine.
• Home Runs: The team has hit multiple homers in four consecutive games, marking a season-best streak.
• Player Contributions: Bo Naylor and David Fry each belted three-run homers in the series opener, showcasing the team’s offensive depth.

New Acquisitions and Streaks

The Guardians are bolstered by new additions and impressive streaks:

• Lane Thomas: The recent acquisition extended his career-high on-base streak to 27 games, continuing from his time with the Washington Nationals.
• Team Records: The Guardians boast the best overall record (66-42) and the best home record (34-15) in the majors.

Orioles’ Recent Performance

The Orioles are holding their own but face tough competition:

• Division Standings: With Thursday’s loss, the Orioles are now tied with the Yankees atop the AL East.
• Player Highlights: Anthony Santander extended his on-base streak to 19 games, tying a career high. Colton Cowser is on a career-best 14-game hitting streak, while Gunnar Henderson has hit safely in eight consecutive games, with strong stats against Cleveland.

Pitching Matchup: Dean Kremer vs. Carlos Carrasco

Friday’s game features an exciting pitching duel:

• Dean Kremer (Orioles): Kremer (4-7, 4.20 ERA) aims to end a four-start winless streak. Despite recent losses, his manager praised his competitiveness and strong performance in his last outing.
• Carlos Carrasco (Guardians): Carrasco (3-9, 5.68 ERA) has struggled recently but performed well in his last game against Baltimore. He holds a 4-2 record with a 2.23 ERA in eight career appearances against the Orioles.

Upcoming Changes

• Tanner Bibee: Bibee will not pitch on Saturday due to shoulder tightness. Rookie Joey Cantillo will step in, facing Baltimore’s Zach Eflin.