At 7:10 PM ET, Progressive Field will host an intriguing interleague showdown between the San Diego Padres and the Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians are positioned as money line favorites at -139, while the Padres sit at +118, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash.
Team Dynamics and Recent Performances
The Padres come into this game with a 50-49 record, placing them 3rd in the NL West. They are seven games behind the Dodgers and have gone 15-17 in divisional games. Their recent encounter against the Atlanta Braves resulted in a 6-3 loss, with Randy Vasquez on the mound. Vasquez pitched five innings, allowing four runs on four hits, and the bullpen allowed another two runs in the eighth inning. Overall, the Padres have dropped two of their last three games against the Braves and have a season record of 24-21 on the road. They have also lost their last two games as underdogs, with an overall underdog record of 21-20.
On the other side, the Guardians lead the AL Central with an impressive 58-37 record. However, they have faced some struggles recently, holding a 1-4 record in their last five home games and a 4-6 record in their previous ten games. Their recent series against the Rays concluded with a 2-0 loss, where Ben Lively struck out the side in the first inning but later allowed two runs in the third. The Guardians' offense averages 4.8 runs per game, with a .243 team batting average, ranking 11th in MLB. They also rank 10th in home runs.
Pitching Matchup
Matt Waldron will take the mound for the Padres. Waldron has started 19 games this season, posting a 5-8 record with a 3.71 ERA. Opponents have batted .225 against him, and he holds a WHIP of 1.17. In his last outing on July 12th, Waldron gave up four earned runs. Meanwhile, Tanner Bibee will be pitching for the Guardians. Bibee has a 7-4 record with a 3.77 ERA over his 19 starts, a WHIP of 1.12, and has delivered seven quality starts this season. Bibee averages 10.54 strikeouts per nine innings and has amassed 123 strikeouts. His last outing against the Tigers saw him give up four earned runs, ending a streak of two consecutive wins before that game.
Key Offensive Players
For the Padres, Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. are tied for the team lead with 14 home runs each. Profar has been particularly effective, with 59 RBIs, and has gone 7/22 in his last seven games. Manny Machado is on a three-game hitting streak, though his batting average over the past week is .231. Additionally, José Ramírez and Josh Naylor have been standout offensive players for the Guardians. Ramírez is second in the league with 77 RBIs and has 23 home runs, batting .271 on the season. Naylor has contributed significantly with 70 RBIs.
Odds and Predictions
The over/under line for this game is set at 7.5 runs, with Cleveland games averaging 8.7 runs per game and Padres games averaging 8.9 runs per game. Notably, 58.6% of Padres games and 66.3% of Guardians games have gone over the line this season. The Guardians are predicted to edge out the Padres with a 6-5 victory, with both teams expected to amass nine hits each. Tanner Bibee is projected to finish with six strikeouts, while Matt Waldron is expected to record five strikeouts. Bibee is also anticipated to yield fewer earned runs than Waldron.
This matchup promises a captivating display of baseball with competitive dynamics on both ends. Fans will be keenly observing whether the Guardians can maintain their lead in the AL Central or if the Padres can leverage their underdog status and secure a crucial victory.