La Dodgers vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

From Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Guardians and Dodgers face off in an interleague matchup. First pitch is set for 10:10 PM ET, and the Dodgers are the betting favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -155. The Guardians have a record of 80-60, while the Dodgers are 84-56.

Matthew Boyd will start for the Guardians, while the Dodgers are sending Landon Knack to the mound. This one will be televised on BSGL.

Matthew Boyd will be on the mound for the Guardians as they take on the Dodgers. Boyd is coming off a start in which he took a loss despite striking out 8 batters and only allowing 1 earned run. He has a win and a no-decision in his other two starts this season.

For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. They have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.9 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .239, which is 16th in the league, and have the worst BABIP in the league. However, their team strikeout rate is the 3rd best in the MLB.

Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor have been the team’s top power threats this season, as Ramirez’s 34 homers are 7th in the league, and Naylor is right behind him with 29. Naylor is also 3rd in the league with 100 RBIs. Naylor is also on a six-game hitting streak and has gone 12/28 in his last seven games.

Right-hander Landon Knack is getting the start for the Dodgers today and has made eight starts this year. He is coming off an outing in which he didn’t give up a run, going four innings out of the bullpen vs. the Brewers. In that outing, he gave up just one hit and issued two walks. Looking back at his last three outings, Knack has given up one earned run in each of them. His record for the season is 2-2, and his ERA is 3.00, along with a WHIP of 1.00. Opposing batters are hitting .198 off Knack this season.

Los Angeles comes into the game as one of the league’s top offenses, as they are 4th in runs per game and are also near the top of the league in home runs and team batting average. They have been especially good at home this season, averaging 5 runs per game. Overall, the Dodgers are averaging 5 runs per contest.

Shohei Ohtani has been a huge power threat for the Dodgers, as his 44 home runs are 2nd in the league and is also the top mark on the team. Ohtani is also 4th in the league with 99 RBIs. Mookie Betts has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 10/29 in his last eight games and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.

Guardians Set Sights on Dodgers in Crucial Series for Best Record Chase

The Cleveland Guardians, comfortably leading the American League Central, have their eyes on a bigger prize this weekend — the best record in baseball. As they kick off a pivotal three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, the Guardians have a golden opportunity to close the gap on some of the league’s top teams and strengthen their postseason positioning.

Guardians Eye the Top Spot

The Guardians (80-60) are just four games behind the Dodgers (84-56) for the best overall record in MLB, with a few other teams also in the mix. One of those teams is the Baltimore Orioles, who lead Cleveland by only half a game in the American League standings. After a strong showing on the road, where the Guardians won two of three against the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland looks to carry that momentum forward despite a 4-1 loss in the series finale.

Cleveland will also be hoping for the return of Josh Naylor, who missed the last game due to back spasms. Naylor’s absence was felt, as the Guardians managed only five singles in their seven hits.

Matthew Boyd to Start for Cleveland

Cleveland will send left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-1, 2.38 ERA) to the mound on Friday. Boyd, who made his return earlier this season after Tommy John surgery, has been impressive in his four starts, allowing just one run in three of them. His latest outing came on August 31, where he put up another strong performance. Boyd has faced the Dodgers only once before, back in 2017, when he was a reliever with the Detroit Tigers.

Dodgers Look to Maintain Their Lead

The Dodgers, currently sitting atop the National League West with a 4 1/2 game lead, are looking to bounce back from a tough 10-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Despite splitting that series, the Dodgers made a statement by winning three of four against the surging Arizona Diamondbacks earlier, scoring an average of eight runs per game.

With their ace Clayton Kershaw on the injured list, the Dodgers are turning to right-hander Landon Knack (2-2, 3.00 ERA), who has been a solid option for them. Knack last pitched in the majors on August 13, when he earned his first career save after a stellar four-inning relief outing against the Brewers.

Mookie Betts Leading Dodgers’ Charge

Since returning from a broken hand, Mookie Betts has been the engine for the Dodgers’ offense. In 22 games, Betts is hitting .301 with five home runs and 22 RBIs, adding a much-needed spark to the lineup.

Playoff Race Heats Up

Both teams have a lot riding on this series. For the Guardians, narrowing the gap on the top teams could improve their playoff seeding and give them a better shot at home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are focused on maintaining their division lead over the San Diego Padres and fending off the Diamondbacks, who are now 5 1/2 games back after Thursday’s loss.

With both teams eyeing the best possible playoff positioning, this series promises to be intense and filled with postseason-level drama.

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as this is our highest projected scoring game of the day. For a straight-up pick, we are leaning toward the Dodgers to come out on top. Los Angeles has the 2nd highest home run projection, and Landon Knack has the 3rd best odds to pick up a win among today’s starters.