Date: June 9, 2023
Time: 7:10 PM
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
The Houston Astros (36-26) are set to go head-to-head with the Cleveland Guardians (28-33) at Progressive Field. According to ESPN’s analytics, the Astros are the favorites with a 62.4% chance of winning.
Starting Pitchers:
For the Astros, right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier (7-1, 2.84 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) will be on the mound. In his 69.2 innings, Javier has struck out 72, walked 16, and allowed 9 home runs.
On the other side, the Guardians will have left-handed pitcher Logan Allen (3-2, 2.76 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) starting. In his 45.2 innings, he’s managed 47 strikeouts, given up 13 walks and 4 home runs.
Star Players:
The Astros’ offense is powered by Yordan Alvarez, who has hit 17 home runs and 55 RBIs, with a .274 batting average. Mauricio Dubon leads the team in batting average with .304.
For the Guardians, Josh Naylor stands out with his 8 home runs and 43 RBIs, maintaining a .270 batting average. Naylor also leads the team in batting average.
Key Stats:
Comparing team stats, the Astros have the edge in batting average (.247 to .235), home runs (69 to 35), OBP (.316 to .301), and SLG (.399 to .350). However, the Guardians hold a slight advantage in ERA (3.77 to 3.25) and WHIP (1.26 to 1.22), making for a potentially tight game.
In their recent form, the Astros have lost three out of their last five games, while the Guardians have won three out of their last five games.
Prediction:
While the Astros are favorites according to ESPN’s analytics and hold a better season record, the unpredictable nature of baseball means the Guardians have a fighting chance. Cleveland Guardians win in a close game, but play on the under as neither offense produces 4-2.
