Cleveland Guardians vs Chi. Cubs Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

Cleveland comes into this one with the Cubs on a three-game winning streak, and they are the heavy favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -129 compared to the Cubs at +109. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and this one can be seen on BSGL.

Chicago is starting Javier Assad, while the Guardians are going with Matthew Boyd. Cleveland is currently 70-49, while the Cubs are 59-61, which has them in 3rd place in the NL Central. Cleveland is also 1st in the AL Central.

Chicago vs. Cleveland Key Information

• Teams: Cubs at Guardians
• Where: Progressive Field Cleveland
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds CLE -129 | CHC +109 O/U 8.5

Right-hander Javier Assad gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces off against the Guardians on the road. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 5-3 with a 3.24 ERA. Out of his 21 appearances, Assad has turned in four quality starts and is averaging 7.89 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Assad finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in four innings of work. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without giving up a homer. Assad’s ERA on the road is 4.57 compared to 2.51 at home.

For the season, the Cubs are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. This is also right around their season-long batting average of .237, which is also 18th in the MLB. Chicago’s offense has been led by Ian Happ, who is batting just .230 but does have a team-high 20 homers and 67 RBIs. Isaac Paredes is also near the top of the league in homers, as he has 18 long balls this season.

Over his last seven games, Dansby Swanson is hitting .370 for the Cubs, and he has six RBIs during this stretch. Ian Happ has also been swinging the bat well of late, going 6/23 in his last six games with three homers. Happ is also on a four-game hitting streak.

• The Cubs are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 6.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Cubs are 6-4
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Chicago has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 5.9 runs per game on offense

Matthew Boyd will be on the mound for the Cleveland Guardians against the Chicago Cubs. Last season, Boyd made 15 starts and finished with a record of 5-5. His ERA for the year was 5.45, and he had a WHIP of 1.32. Boyd’s batting average allowed was .245, and his on-base percentage allowed was .311. For the season, he gave up a total of 11 home runs. Boyd’s strikeout-to-walk ratio for the year was 2.9, and he averaged 1.7 walks per game.

For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.6 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 .241, which is 15th in the MLB right now. Cleveland’s offense has been led by José Ramírez, who is 2nd on the team with a .282 batting average and has gone deep 31 times this season, which is 4th in the league. Ramírez has also driven in 97 runs, which is 2nd in the MLB.

Over his last 10 games, Ramírez has hit .341 with three homers, while Josh Naylor has also gone deep three times in this stretch, but is batting just .237. Naylor is also 2nd on the team with 26 home runs.

• The Guardians are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Guardians are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Cleveland has an over/under record of 6-2-2 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 home games, the Guardians are 6-4
• 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 3.2 runs per game on offense

Matthew Boyd Ready for Season Debut as Guardians Face Cubs

After a long year of recovery and grinding it out, lefty Matthew Boyd is finally ready to make his 2024 MLB season debut. He’ll be taking the mound as the Cleveland Guardians go up against the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a key three-game series. This isn’t just a big deal for Boyd; it’s also huge for the Guardians, who’ve been struggling to find some consistency in their starting rotation. With Cleveland trying to hold onto their lead in the American League Central, Boyd’s return could be just what they need to keep things on track.

Matthew Boyd’s Long Road Back

Boyd’s journey back to the majors has been anything but easy. The 33-year-old last pitched in a big league game over a year ago, on June 26, 2023, when he was still with the Detroit Tigers. But after Tommy John surgery, he was sidelined for what must have felt like an eternity, putting in endless hours of rehab to get back to where he is now. The Guardians took a bit of a gamble when they signed him on June 29, 2024, hoping he could find his old groove and bring some stability to a rotation that’s been hit hard by injuries and inconsistency.

Since joining the Guardians, Boyd has been impressive in his rehab starts down in the minors. Over five starts, he’s posted a jaw-dropping 0.83 ERA, striking out 27 batters in just over 21 innings. Those numbers scream “ready,” and now Boyd is eager to show that he’s still got what it takes to compete at the highest level.

“Matt is raring to go,” said Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti back in June. “He’s a fierce competitor. He’s put in so much work to get back here, and he’s pumped to get back on the mound in a major league game.”

The Guardians’ Wild Season

The Cleveland Guardians have had a season that can only be described as a roller-coaster ride. Injuries have played a big role in their ups and downs. They’ve had streaks where they look unbeatable, like a five-game winning streak in late July, followed by a brutal seven-game losing streak. Right now, they’re on a three-game winning streak heading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Cubs.

The series opener against Chicago was a nail-biter. The Guardians blew an 8-3 lead but managed to squeak out a 9-8 win thanks to Josh Naylor’s clutch RBI single in the eighth inning. Naylor has been on fire lately, going 5-for-11 in his last three games. Rookie Jhonkensy Noel also stepped up, blasting a three-run homer and a solo shot, with Steven Kwan adding a two-run homer to help the Guardians pull through.

But the win came at a cost—the Guardians had to use six relievers to close out the game. With Boyd making his debut, the team will be hoping he can go deep into the game to give that tired bullpen a break.

The Cubs: A Tough Opponent

The Chicago Cubs have been on a hot streak themselves, going 8-3 since the end of July and staying right in the mix for a National League wild-card spot. Even though they lost the series opener, the Cubs showed they’re not going down easy. Ian Happ celebrated his 30th birthday by smashing his 20th home run of the season, and Dansby Swanson kept the pressure on with a three-run double that almost brought the Cubs back.

Happ has been crushing it lately, with three homers in his last four games, while Swanson is riding a seven-game hitting streak, batting .370 with six RBIs during that run. These two have had success against Boyd before, going a combined 5-for-6 with a home run each, making them the guys to watch when Boyd takes the mound on Tuesday.

Javier Assad: The Cubs’ Steady Hand

Starting for the Cubs is right-hander Javier Assad, who’s been one of their most consistent pitchers this season. Assad has a solid 5-3 record with a 3.24 ERA and has been particularly effective recently, with the Cubs winning the last four games he’s pitched.

In his last outing, Assad gave up two runs on three hits over four innings against the Twins, ending with a no-decision. But he’s had success against the Guardians before, pitching three scoreless innings in his only other appearance against them back in July 2023.

What’s at Stake in This Series

As the series continues, both teams are looking to gain ground in their playoff races. The Guardians, who are leading the AL Central, are counting on Boyd to bring some stability to their rotation and go deep into the game, especially with their bullpen feeling the strain. Boyd’s performance could be a game-changer as the Guardians head into a critical part of their season.

For the Cubs, it’s all about keeping their offense rolling and hoping Assad can keep up his strong performances. If they can continue to pressure Cleveland’s pitchers like they did in the first game, they’ll be in a good position to even up the series.

Matthew Boyd’s return to the majors is a big moment for both him and the Cleveland Guardians. After a long year of recovery from Tommy John surgery, Boyd is ready to prove he’s still got it. All eyes will be on him as he takes the mound on Tuesday, with the Guardians hoping he can help lead them through a crucial part of the season. With the Cubs posing a serious challenge, Boyd’s debut is shaping up to be must-see baseball with plenty of playoff implications on the line.

Unlock Your Betting Potential! Join Today.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the highest total hits projection. As for how we are playing the money line in this Cubs vs. Guardians matchup, we are leaning towards the Guardians to come out on top. Matthew Boyd is our lowest projected starter of the day in terms of strikeouts, but he has the best hits allowed projection. On the other side, Javier Assad is 3rd worst among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.