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Milwaukee comes into this interleague matchup vs. the Guardians with a record of 71-52, and they are currently on a four-game winning streak. The Brewers are favored on the money line today (-122), while the Guardians are the slight underdog (+104). Today’s over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs.
First pitch from American Family Field in Milwaukee is set for 2:10 PM ET. BSGL will be televising this one, and the Guardians are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. They are currently 1st in the AL Central, while the Brewers are leading the NL Central with a record of 71-52.
Seattle vs. Pittsburgh Key Information
- Teams: Guardians at Brewers
- Where: American Family Field Milwaukee
- Date: Sunday, August 18th
- Betting Odds MIL -122 | CLE +104 O/U 8.5
The Guardians Can Win If…
Right-hander Ben Lively gets the start for the Guardians today as he faces the Brewers on the road. Lively has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 10-7 with a 3.71 ERA. In his 21 appearances, he has turned in seven quality starts and is averaging 7.34 strikeouts per nine innings. Lively’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.21. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts.
Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor are the Guardians’ top home run hitters this season, with Ramirez’s 32 homers leading the team and ranking 5th in the league. Naylor is right behind him with 27 homers, which is 9th best in the MLB. Ramirez is also 2nd in the league in RBIs, with 100, and Naylor is 5th in the league with 89 RBIs. Naylor comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak.
As a team, the Guardians are averaging 4.6 runs per game and are one of the better home run hitting teams in the league. However, they have been below average in terms of batting average and on-base percentage this season. Currently, they are 7th in home runs and are averaging 4.9 runs per game at home.
- The Guardians are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Guardians are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- Cleveland has an over/under record of 2-5-3 in their last ten games.
- The Guardians have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Guardians are 5-5
- Looking back across the Guardians last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Cleveland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Guardians have averaged 3.3 runs per game on offense
The Brewers Can Win If…
Right-hander Colin Rea gets the start for the Brewers today as he faces off against the Guardians. Rea has made 20 starts this season and has a record of 10-4 to go along with a 3.72 ERA. In his 23 appearances, he has turned in seven quality starts and is averaging 7.22 strikeouts per nine innings. Rea’s last outing was a rough one, as he gave up seven earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had not allowed more than two earned runs in four straight outings.
William Contreras has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Brewers, going 6/20 with four homers over his last six games. For the season, he is batting .284 with 17 homers, which is the 3rd best mark on the team. Willy Adames has the most homers for the Brewers this season and is 8th in the league in RBIs. He is also on a three-game hitting streak.
As a team, the Brewers are 9th in the league in scoring at 4.8 runs per game. They have been a good home team this season, averaging 4.7 runs per contest. Overall, they are batting .253, which is the 6th best mark in the league.
- The Brewers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Brewers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- Milwaukee has an over/under record of 4-4-2 in their last ten games.
- The Brewers have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Brewers are 7-3
- Looking back across the Brewers last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- Milwaukee has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Brewers have averaged 6.2 runs per game on offense
Brewers Close In on Crucial Sweep Over Guardians
The Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of completing a significant series sweep against the Cleveland Guardians as they head into the final game of their three-game interleague set on Sunday. Despite losing their star hitter, Christian Yelich, to season-ending back surgery, the Brewers have kept their momentum going, thanks to key contributions from other players. Meanwhile, the Guardians are struggling to find timely hits as they fight to avoid a sweep and maintain their lead in the American League Central.
Brewers Thrive Without Yelich
Even with Yelich sidelined, the Brewers, who currently lead the National League Central, are riding a four-game winning streak. This streak includes impressive wins against top teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians. Milwaukee has shown depth and resilience, finding ways to win despite the absence of their star player.
Catcher William Contreras has been a standout during this run, smashing four home runs in the last six games, including a crucial one in Saturday’s 2-1 victory. Contreras has stepped up to fill the gap left by Yelich, and his confidence at the plate has provided the Brewers with the spark they needed.
“I just feel really good at the plate right now; I’m feeling really comfortable,” Contreras said. “Not really trying to do too much, just doing whatever I can to help the team. I think we’re playing good ball on both sides right now, both offensively and defensively.”
Guardians Struggling to Find Offense
The Cleveland Guardians, leading the American League Central, have found themselves stymied by Milwaukee’s pitching. After coming into the series on a five-game winning streak, the Guardians have managed only four runs in the first two games against the Brewers. Their inability to deliver in clutch situations has been a major factor in their recent struggles.
Josh Naylor has been one of the few bright spots for Cleveland, providing the team’s lone run on Saturday with a home run. However, the rest of the lineup has been quiet, and Will Brennan’s seven-game hitting streak ended. Manager Stephen Vogt remains optimistic but recognizes the challenges of a long season.
“It’s a long season, and I’m learning that more and more every day, but these guys play hard every day,” Vogt said. The Guardians will need to bring that energy to avoid leaving Milwaukee empty-handed.
Pitching Matchup: Rea vs. Lively
Colin Rea (Milwaukee Brewers)
Colin Rea, with a 10-4 record and a 3.72 ERA, takes the mound for the Brewers, looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Dodgers, where he gave up seven earned runs on 10 hits, including four home runs. Despite this setback, Rea’s limited experience against the Guardians (two shutout innings in 2020) could work in his favor as he aims to help Milwaukee complete the sweep.
Ben Lively (Cleveland Guardians)
Ben Lively, who holds a 10-7 record with a 3.71 ERA, will be pitching for the Guardians but has struggled against the Brewers historically, with an 0-3 record over four career appearances. In his most recent start against the Cubs, Lively was pulled after allowing three earned runs, including two homers. He’ll need to find his form to give the Guardians a chance to avoid the sweep.
Game Implications: Momentum vs. Survival
For the Brewers, sweeping the Guardians would not only extend their winning streak but also solidify their lead in the NL Central. The team’s ability to adapt and thrive without Christian Yelich highlights their depth and resilience as they push toward the postseason.
On the other hand, the Guardians are in a battle to maintain their position at the top of the AL Central. A win on Sunday would stop their slide and prevent them from falling further into a slump as they continue their playoff push. With Lively on the mound, the pressure is on Cleveland to deliver a strong performance and salvage a win in the series finale.
Brewers Eye Sweep, Guardians Seek to Avoid Collapse
As the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians face off in the series finale, the stakes are high for both teams. The Brewers, fueled by recent success and key contributions from players like William Contreras, are aiming to complete the sweep and keep their momentum rolling. Meanwhile, the Guardians are desperate to avoid a sweep and reignite their offense as they fight to stay on top of the AL Central. Sunday’s game is set to be a crucial battle as both teams look to strengthen their postseason prospects.
The Lean
Today’s matchup between the Guardians and Brewers has the 3rd highest combined runs projection and 3rd highest total hits projection. Our lean would be to take the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Guardians to pick up the win. Ben Lively is projected to have a good outing for the Guardians, as he has the 4th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.
