Cleveland Guardians vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions August 30th 2024

Cleveland comes into this interleague matchup as the heavy favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -169. The Pirates are +142 on the money line, and the over/under line is at 9 runs. This one is getting started at 7:10 PM ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland, and the Guardians have the best record in the AL Central, while the Pirates are 5th in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak, but they are just 62-71 this season. Cleveland will start Ben Lively, while the Pirates are sending Bailey Falter to the mound. SN PT will be televising this one, and the forecast in Cleveland calls for clear skies and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland Key Information

Pittsburgh is sending left-hander Bailey Falter to the mound today vs. the Guardians. He has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 6-7 with an ERA of 4.25. Falter’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.26. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up five earned runs in five innings of work vs. the Reds. Before that, he had picked up the win vs. the Mariners, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs. Falter has made seven quality starts this season and is averaging 6.33 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Pirates offense has been led by Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz this season, as Reynolds comes into the game with a team-high 21 home runs and a batting average of .282. De La Cruz is 2nd on the team in homers and has a batting average of .243. Reynolds has been hot of late, going 12/40 in his last 10 games with two homers. Oneil Cruz has also been swinging the bat well, hitting .405 over his last 10 games.

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As a team, the Pirates are averaging 4.2 runs per game, and they have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.3 runs per game. Overall, they are just 23rd in home runs and are near the bottom of the league in strikeouts. Their team batting average of .236 is 18th in the league.

Ben Lively will be looking to build off his last outing, where he picked up the win. Against the Rangers on August 24th, he went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Lively only allowed one homer in that outing. Looking back at his last four outings, he has given up at least two homers in three of them. Lively’s record for the season is 11-8, and his ERA is 3.62. Out of his 23 starts, he has nine quality starts and is averaging 7.25 strikeouts per nine innings.

Heading into today’s game, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. At home, they have been even better, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting just .237, which is 17th in the league, and have the worst BABIP in the league. However, they have done a good job of avoiding strikeouts, as they have the 4th fewest strikeouts in the league.

The Guardians’ offense is led by José Ramírez, who is 2nd in the league with 104 RBIs and is 5th in the league with 33 home runs. He is batting .274 this season. Josh Naylor is 2nd on the team with 28 homers but is batting just .237. Over his last eight games, Jhonkensy Noel is hitting .345 with three homers.

Today’s Pirates and Guardians matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. Our lean would be to take the over, and for a play on the money line, we would be leaning toward the Pirates to pick up the win. Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter comes in with the 2nd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters, while Ben Lively has the 5th worst projection for the Guardians.

Guardians Look to Capitalize on Pirates’ Struggles

The Cleveland Guardians are set to open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, riding high after a dramatic comeback win that propelled them back into sole possession of first place in the American League Central. Despite a recent rough patch where they won only four of their last 13 games, the Guardians are hoping to build on their momentum and extend their slim lead in the division.

Guardians’ Resilience Shines in Comeback Win

The Guardians showcased their resilience on Wednesday, overcoming a late 5-2 deficit to secure a 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. A four-run seventh inning turned the tide, highlighted by Bo Naylor’s solo homer and RBI singles from Josh Naylor, Will Brennan, and rookie Jhonkensy Noel. This crucial rally helped Cleveland salvage the final game of a four-game series and regain some much-needed confidence.

“We haven’t looked like ourselves for a while, but that inning, that was us,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Find a way to put up a crooked number, especially with two outs. Two-out hitting has been great for us all year.”

The top of Cleveland’s lineup was instrumental in the win, with Steven Kwan, Andres Gimenez, Jose Ramirez, and Josh Naylor combining for seven hits, four RBIs, and four runs. The Guardians also benefited from closer Emmanuel Clase, who converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity. His 149 career saves with Cleveland now ties him with Cody Allen for the all-time franchise lead.

“It’s huge to be able to have that guy in the back end of a game when we’re in certain important situations,” Bo Naylor said of Clase. “For me, being able to know that the guy in front of me is doing whatever he can to help us win. That’s the most important thing.”

Ben Lively Takes the Mound

Cleveland will send right-hander Ben Lively to the mound on Friday. Lively, who has an 11-8 record with a 3.62 ERA, secured his first win since August 1 in his last outing, allowing three runs (two earned) over 6 2/3 innings in a 13-5 win against the Texas Rangers. Although he has struggled against Pittsburgh in the past, holding a 0-2 record with a 3.38 ERA in three career appearances, Lively will look to continue his recent strong form.

Opposing Lively will be Pirates left-hander Bailey Falter, who carries a 6-7 record with a 4.25 ERA. Falter was fortunate to escape with a no-decision in his previous start, where he allowed five runs on six hits over five innings against the Cincinnati Reds. This will be Falter’s first career start against the Guardians.

Pirates’ Generosity Proves Costly

The Pirates have been generous on the mound lately, giving up 54 runs over their last five games, including 41 runs in their last three losses. Their most recent game saw a seven-run lead vanish as the Chicago Cubs completed a sweep with a 14-10 victory, a collapse that left Pirates manager Derek Shelton visibly frustrated.

“It’s frustrating,” Shelton said. “It’s about as frustrated as I’ve been. We’ve got to execute. You cannot have a 10-3 game in the seventh inning and give up 11 runs. We’ve got to be better.”

Despite the struggles, Pittsburgh has had some bright spots. Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe each homered and collected three hits in Wednesday’s game, contributing to a strong offensive showing that unfortunately wasn’t enough to secure a win. Oneil Cruz, who brings a nine-game hitting streak and a 20-game on-base streak into Friday’s game, will be a key player to watch as the Pirates look to turn their fortunes around.

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Series Outlook

As the Guardians aim to capitalize on Pittsburgh’s recent struggles, this series presents an opportunity for Cleveland to solidify their position atop the AL Central. With the Pirates reeling from their recent defensive lapses and pitching woes, Cleveland has a chance to extend their division lead and gain some much-needed momentum as the season enters its final stretch. For the Pirates, finding consistency and closing out games will be crucial if they hope to challenge the Guardians and avoid further slipping in the standings.