With playoffs around the corner, the Cleveland Guardians (89-65) and the St. Louis Cardinals (77-76) are set to face each other on September 20, 2024. They faced off in Busch Stadium, which has substantial playoff ramifications and is especially relevant to the Guardians who are looking to secure a playoff position with their sights on such an impressive record. Today is game will be a thrilling fight that will be adorned with the expectations of premium sports predictions.
Cleveland Guardians vs. St. Louis Cardinals 9/20/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Friday, September 20, 2024 at 8:15 PM ET |
| Where: | Busch Stadium |
| Watch: | BSMW, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Guardians odds: | -102 Moneyline |
| Cardinals odds: | -115 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 8.5 |
Cleveland Guardians (89-65) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (77-76)
The Cleveland Guardians are making a strong case for themselves as contenders this season. Their recent performances have been marked by strategic plays and resilience, factors that have catapulted them to one of the top spots in the league. Analyzing their last five games, the Guardians have shown their capability to edge out close games. They secured wins against the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays, with scores reflecting tight margins and robust pitching strategies.
| Cleveland Guardians Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 19, 2024 | MIN | 3-2 | Win |
| Sep 18, 2024 | MIN | 5-4 | Win |
| Sep 17, 2024 | MIN | 1-4 | Lose |
| Sep 16, 2024 | MIN | 4-3 | Win |
| Sep 15, 2024 | TB | 2-0 | Win |
On the flip side, the St. Louis Cardinals are displaying a mixed bag of results. Their recent outings against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays have seen fluctuating outcomes, with a notable dip in their last game. Despite these ups and downs, the Cardinals have maintained a decent mid-table position, though their inconsistency might be a cause for concern heading into the postseason rush.
| St. Louis Cardinals Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 19, 2024 | PIT | 2-3 | Lose |
| Sep 18, 2024 | PIT | 10-5 | Win |
| Sep 17, 2024 | PIT | 3-1 | Win |
| Sep 16, 2024 | PIT | 4-0 | Win |
| Sep 15, 2024 | TOR | 2-3 | Lose |
Ben Lively (12-9, 3.87 ERA) vs. Kyle Gibson (8-7, 4.11 ERA)
Ben Lively, taking the mound for the Guardians, has put in some good numbers this season. He has a record of 12-9 with an ERA of 3.87, so Lively is also tough and dependable. In 142 innings pitched, he has a very respectable K rate while also keeping walks and home runs down, both of which show good control and are worth selecting the right pitch. As Lively goes into various matchups with the Cardinals, whose batting order has certainly been both passive and explosive, the ability to stop batters from hitting will be critical for him.
Compared to Lively, Kyle Gibson from the Cardinals has an 8-7 win/loss record with a slightly higher ERA of 4.11. While he has managed some issues with a higher WHIP of 1.33, he has had more than his fair share of base runners, which the offensively competent Guardians could take advantage of. Preparing for the unique demands of this matchup, Gibson’s ability to pace himself through his innings and the tempo of the game will be critical, more so against a team that makes the most out of pitching errors.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland Guardians -102, Total Odds: 8.5
While playing the hesitant game of wagering, the current betting lines seem to stumble in the Guardians’ favor with only a slight margin of error in betting outcomes. Considering the form of both the teams lately, the total line 8.5 indicates a tight pitcher-catcher duel but accepts that some runs may come.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Trends
The Guardians have been a good team to bet on, especially in the recent games whose total has been going UNDER regularly. Its most significant advantage has been the rotation’s ability to close out late games, with the team going 5-1 SU in the last 6 games, a trend that betting ontologists find alluring, especially when playing away.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends
Even with the inconsistency of their season, the Cardinals have been leaning toward the UNDER in their recent encounters. Such a trend is very important for total lines bettors generally because of Gibson’s propensity to be more effective at home, which might help keep the score low against a strong Guardians team.
Cleveland Guardians vs. St. Louis Cardinals 9/20/24 Betting Picks
Given the recent form and arm of Lively’s, the Guardians will be more dominant in the upcoming contest. The betting pick is on the Guardians to cover the spread, although the UNDER looks more appealing given the circumstances of the game, especially the two pitchers on the mound.
An examination into the player performances could help place wagers on select batsmen or strikeout figures of the starting pitchers whenever the focus of one bet until the game. The free baseball picks today show that, most likely, there will be a very close contest that one or two critical innings may decide. In this regard, the pitchers and batters of the guardians, being slightly better, will be the safer bet.