Milwaukee Brewers vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions August 17th 2024

From American Family Field in Milwaukee, we have an interleague matchup between the Guardians and Brewers. Cleveland is currently 72-50 and they are 1st in the AL Central, while the Brewers have won three straight and are 1st in the NL Central with a record of 70-52.

First pitch for Saturday’s matchup is set for 7:15 PM ET, and FOX will be televising the game. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and the Brewers are the slight favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -115. The Guardians are starting Tanner Bibee, while Freddy Peralta is on the mound for the Brewers.

Cleveland vs. Milwaukee Key Information

Cleveland is sending right-hander Tanner Bibee to the mound today as he faces the Brewers on the road. Bibee has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 10-4 with a 3.39 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Bibee has a WHIP of 1.09 and opponents are batting .222 this season. In his last outing, Bibee picked up the win, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up one earned run on six hits. He has won each of his last three starts. Bibee has turned in eight quality starts this year and is averaging 9.68 strikeouts per nine innings.

For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 12th in the league. They have been slightly better at home, averaging 4.9 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 14th in the league, and have the 12th most home runs in the league. One area they have been strong is in avoiding strikeouts, as they are 4th in the league in this category.

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José Ramírez has been the Guardians’ top power threat this season, as his 32 home runs are 6th in the league and the best mark on the team. He is also 2nd in the league with 100 RBIs. Over his last seven games, Will Brennan is hitting .440, and he is also on a seven-game hitting streak. Jhonkensy Noel has three homers in his last six games but is just 4/18 in this stretch.

Freddy Peralta will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Dodgers, as he gets the start for the Brewers vs. the Guardians today. In that start vs. the Dodgers, he gave up four earned runs in six innings of work. Peralta ended up taking the loss in that outing. Before that start, he had won two straight starts. Peralta has a record of 7-7 this season and an ERA of 4.11. For the year, he has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .218 vs. Peralta this season. The right-hander has a total of 21 home runs allowed this year.

William Contreras has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Brewers, going 5/17 in his last five games with three homers. Overall, he is batting .284 with 16 homers and 70 RBIs, which is the 2nd best mark on the team. Willy Adames has been even better in the power department, as his 22 homers are the best on the team and 7th most in the league. Adames also leads the Brewers with 84 RBIs.

As a team, the Brewers are averaging 4.8 runs per game and have been one of the league’s top home run hitting clubs. Overall, they are 7th in team batting average and have the 3rd best on-base percentage in the league. Milwaukee has been swinging the bats well of late, with both Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio carrying hitting streaks into the game.

Today’s matchup between the Guardians and Brewers has the 8th highest combined runs projection and the 5th highest combined hits projection. Our lean would be towards taking the over, and for a money line pick, we would be leaning towards the Brewers to come out on top. Freddy Peralta has the 6th best odds to pick up a win among today’s starters.

Brewers Seek Series Victory Over Guardians Amidst Playoff Push

As the Milwaukee Brewers proceed with their journey for a season finisher spot, they wind up acclimating to existence without one of their vital participants, Christian Yelich, who as of late went through season-finishing back a medical procedure. With Yelich sidelined, the Brewers are focusing on different players to move forward and make up for the shortfall. One such player is Brice Turang, who has been instrumental in the group’s new achievement.

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Turang Steps Up for Brewers

Brice Turang has been a brilliant spot for the Brewers during their ongoing three-game series of wins. The second baseman contributed a urgent RBI single in Milwaukee’s 5-3 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, the opener of a three-game series. Over the beyond three games, Turang has gone 4-for-9, giving a genuinely necessary lift to the Brewers’ setup in Yelich’s nonappearance.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised Turang’s approach at the plate, highlighting his ability to execute his game plan. “He understands where his flight plan is,” Murphy said.

“That particular at-bat, the base hit up the middle, was just like he scripted it. He talked about it, ‘Hey, lay off high fastballs, this guy’s going to throw me something soft and go up the middle and I’m going to be able to get through it.’”

Adames Continues Power Surge

Willy Adames has also been a key contributor to the Brewers’ recent success. On Friday, Adames blasted his 22nd home run of the season, a three-run shot that marked his league-leading 10th of the year. Adames’ power has been a consistent source of offense for Milwaukee, and his continued production will be vital as the team pushes toward the postseason.

Guardians Rely on Bibee

Hoping to stop Milwaukee’s series of wins, the Cleveland Guardians will send Leather expert Bibee to the hill on Saturday. Bibee has been a solid starter for the Guardians, with the group flaunting a great 18-5 record in games he begins this season.

Bibee is falling off major areas of strength for an against the Minnesota Twins last Sunday, where he permitted only one sudden spike in demand for six hits more than 5 2/3 innings. This exhibition was particularly great given that it followed a 12-day cutback because of right shoulder tightness. “Unbelievable,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said of Bibee’s return. “The guy has two weeks off, comes out and it’s probably some of the best he’s looked all year.”

Despite not having his best slider in his last start, Bibee’s fastball and changeup were highly effective. “I was efficient the entire time,” Bibee said. “I feel like if I had a normal pitch count, I would get through six, maybe seven (innings), depending on what goes on.”

Bibee has faced the Brewers once before, earning a win on June 24, 2023, where he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over six innings.

Peralta Looks to Bounce Back

The Brewers will counter with Freddy Peralta, who will start on Saturday. Peralta has had a mixed season, particularly struggling with the long ball in recent outings. Over his last four starts, he has surrendered seven home runs, which has impacted his overall effectiveness.

In his most recent start, Peralta took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the struggles, Peralta remains optimistic about his performance.

“I’m feeling healthy,” Peralta said. “All the pitches are good. Sometimes you don’t get the results you are expecting. I just have to keep going, keep battling, keep fighting.”

Peralta’s track record against the Guardians is limited but includes a 0-1 record with a 4.05 ERA in two career appearances, one of which was a start.

Brewers Push for Playoff Position

As the Brewers continue their playoff push, securing a series victory against the Guardians would be a significant step forward. With key players like Turang and Adames stepping up, Milwaukee is finding ways to win despite the loss of Yelich. Meanwhile, the Guardians, who are sending one of their most reliable starters to the mound, are looking to halt the Brewers’ momentum and keep their own postseason hopes alive.

Saturday’s game will be a pivotal moment for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the season with postseason implications on the line. The Brewers will rely on continued contributions from their emerging stars, while the Guardians hope that Bibee can deliver another strong performance to keep their playoff dreams within reach.