Guardians Look To Build on Gaudy Home Record

Guardians Favored to Keep Piling Up the Wins at Home

The Washington Nationals just took three of four games from the Atlanta Braves and allowed five runs over the last three games. It won’t be easy to keep up that pace as the Nationals head to Cleveland to meet up with a Guardians team that is 18-6 at home this season. The Nationals vs Guardians run line odds favor the Guardians to keep on rolling at home.

Cleveland has lost just one series at home this season and has won its last seven home games
Washington had won four games in a row against Cleveland before the Guardians took two of the three matchups in the lone series between the teams in 2023. Six of the last seven games between the teams landed over the total.

The MLB picks list Cleveland at -215 to win Friday’s series opener after the line opened at -200. Washington has +180 odds to win on Friday. Cleveland is priced at -225 to win the series with the Nationals offering pretty good value at +195 after defying the odds by taking the previous series against the Braves.

Despite having the second-best record in the MLB American League, the Guardians are tied for fourth among American League teams at +2200 in the odds of winning the World Series. Washington is well back at +50000 in the championship odds.

Nationals vs Guardians Probable Pitching Matchups

• Friday: Patrick Corbin (Nationals); Tanner Bibee (Guardians)
• Saturday: Madison Parker (Nationals); Ben Lively (Guardians)
• Sunday: Jake Irvin (Nationals); TBA (Guardians)

Not Bad For Starters

Many issues plagued the 2023 Washington Nationals. It didn’t help that Washington’s starting pitchers were 37-62 with an ERA of 5.02 while opposing batters had a .277 average against the starters.

The ERA for Washington’s starting pitchers has dropped by more than a run. They have been doing some of their best work in recent games.

Over the last eight games, they are 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA. They have allowed 35 hits and struck out 56 in 46.2 innings during that stretch. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Nationals vs Guardians run line odds.

Eight of Washington’s last 11 games against American League teams went under the total.

Power and Speed A Productive Combination For Guardians

It has been an interesting month per Cleveland Guardians news.

The Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago White Sox are the only teams with lower team batting averages in May. Thanks to 34 home runs and 23 stolen bases, the Guardians have scored the third-most runs among American League teams. That is something to consider when it comes to the Nationals vs Guardians run line odds.

Jose Ramirez leads the way with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs while David Fry is batting .385. This was done while outfielder Steven Kwan was limited to four games before going on the injury list. He was hitting .353 at the time of his injury.

Cleveland had six stolen bases in the three games against the Nationals a season ago.

Four of Cleveland’s last six games finished over the total.

Who’s Hot

• Hunter Gaddis, Cleveland Guardians P: Gaddis has allowed four hits and no runs with nine strikeouts in 11 innings over his last 11 appearances.
• Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals P: Irvin has allowed seven hits and two runs with 16 strikeouts in 12.1 innings during his last two starts.
• Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians 3B: Ramirez has at least two hits in six of his last 11 games. He is hitting .364 during that stretch with seven doubles, six home runs, 14 runs, and 18 RBIs.
• Keibert Ruiz, Washington Nationals C: Ruiz is 10-for-22 with four runs and five RBIs in his last seven games.

Who’s Not

• Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals 2B: Garcia is 1-for-14 with two strikeouts in his last three games.
• Sam Hentges, Cleveland Guardians P: Hentges surrendered six hits and four runs in 3.2 innings over his last five outings.
• Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians SS: Rocchio is 3-for-18 with four strikeouts in his last six games.
• Jordan Weems, Washington Nationals P: Weems has allowed five hits and five runs in 3.1 innings in his last three appearances.

Nationals vs Guardians Injury Update

Pitchers Cade Cavalli and Josiah Gray are on the injured list for the Nationals.

Outfielder Steven Kwan could return soon for the Guardians. Pitchers James Karinchak, Trevor Stephan, and Gavin Williams are on the injured list as well.

An undefeated first homestand wearing the City Connects.

Wonder what the future holds. 🤔#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/X7W0DK3p72

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 31, 2024

Nationals vs Guardians Betting Preview

Cleveland looks to extend its seven-game winning streak at home. The Cleveland Guardians were 12-15 at home heading into June during the 2023 season. A win in the series opener would be the 19th home win this season.

When looking at potential MLB scores today, Cleveland is 10-2 over the last 12 games with Washington winning five of its last seven games so this is a more compelling series than one would have expected when the 2024 MLB schedule was announced.

Cleveland is 11-9 against the run line as a home favorite this season while the Nationals have covered in 19 of 29 games as the road underdog.

Washington is 21-11 against the run line on the road with 17 of those games landing under the total. The total is at 8 for the series opener. There have been 24 runs scored, including 19 by the opposing team, in Patrick Corbin’s last two starts for the Nationals. Five of the last six starts for Bibee have seen seven runs or less scored.

For MLB predictions, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Can Surging Rangers Keep It Going in Miami?
• Heavyweight Dodgers Big Favorites Over Rockies
• Blue Jays to Edge Pirates in Weekend Series
• Suddenly Hot Cardinals Worth an Underdog Bet
  
• How Will Detroit Fare Without Kerry Carpenter?