Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians 8/31/24 – As August nears its thrilling conclusion, as the calendar indicates, it seems the action-packed matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians will be hosted at Progressive Field on a calm Saturday evening. As the arguments over the different levels of performance of the equally strong rivals are in play, today’s battle would be quite interesting for both punters and sports fans since it demonstrates the sports top handicapping.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians 8/31/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 6:10 PM ET |
| Where: | Progressive Field |
| TV: | – |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Pittsburgh Pirates (62-72) vs. Cleveland Guardians (77-58)
In the chase of wild card in the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates, even with their losing record, display possibilities and defiance. The baseball season for them has been one filled with surprises and disappointments in terms of prevailing in games. The team has a .236 batting average along with a slightly struggling bullpen of 4.11 ER aims to suggest a group who is still trying to find their rhythm. Furthermore, with the upcoming Red Sox and Tigers matchup drawing attention, comparisons with other mid-tier teams reveal a similar struggle for consistency across the league.
On the flip side, the Cleveland Guardians seem much more in control this year. Boasting an impressive 77-58 record, they are not simply battling for home ground advantage; they are in the thick of the postseason fight. In addition to their offensive stats, they have a batting average of .237 and slugging percentage of .393 showing that their fighting forces are compared to the Pirates. Moreover, the Athletics-Rangers faceoff serves as a reminder of the competitive pressure within their own division, emphasizing the need for the Guardians to maintain their winning momentum.
Luis Ortiz (5-4, 3.36 ERA) vs. Matthew Boyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
In his start against the Pirates tonight, Luis Ortiz holds an impressive 3.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, proving his capability of pitching efficiently even with minimal run support. The fact that he has been able to restrict walked batters to 32 and convex homers to 12 in 107 innings this season reiterates his smartness which is going to be needed to tackle the lineup of the Guardians. With proper execution, he could help the Pirates pull off the upset since his strengths clearly match up with a strong bullpen of the Cleveland Indians.
However, there’s Matthew Boyd, who is a bit of a new face this year having pitched just 16.2 innings this year but boasts a 2.70 ERA and WHIP of 0.90. He looked good in his short spells, as he moved fast to prevent hitters from having 10 hits and striking 12 batters. Fresh arms might be an aspect that could work in the favour of Cleveland given that the Pirates are on the road.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland Guardians -1.5 +134, Total Odds: 8
The betting odds reflect the Guardians’ favorable positioning, especially with the run line offering a +134 return on them covering the 1.5 spread. The total, set at 8, suggests expectations of moderate scoring, aligning with recent trends observed in both teams’ games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
The Pirates have been trailing in recent form, with a 1-5 SU record in their last six outings. Their struggle is more pronounced on the road, where they’ve won only once in their last 11 attempts. This dismal road performance will undoubtedly weigh heavy on their odds, particularly when facing a strong home side like Cleveland.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Trends
Cleveland has been robust, particularly in matchups against Pittsburgh, with a 4-1 SU record in their last five home encounters. Their overall success on Saturdays (13-6 SU) adds an extra layer of intrigue and reliability to their gameplay, suggesting that history might favor them once more in this evening’s contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians 8/31/24 Betting Picks
When one takes into account all pertinent statistics and information on the trends, it is safe to say that the Guardians are extremely difficult to defeat on their turf, whereas the Pirates are terrible away. It is reasonable to put a bet on Cleveland covering the spread, according to the provided statistics and recent trends. Moreover, both teams have become inclined to put up high-scoring games of late, therefore taking the over on the total points appears to be a wise bet.
Even free MLB game advice recommends that individual prop bets may have some value, it is generally better to play the main lines given their safety relative to those variables. Given such a pitching duel and such offensive statistics from the teams, it is acceptable to be somewhat biased that the scoreline will favor the Guardians in the end.