Orioles vs Guardians Game Preview: Bieber’s Return Not Enough For Cleveland

Bieber Set to Make His First Start for the Host Guardians Since July

Just when it looked like the playoff-bound Baltimore Orioles would find a way to win the series opener in Cleveland, the Guardians used three walks and a hit by a pitch in the eighth inning to regain control. Orioles vs Guardians game preview in Game 2 of the series favors the visiting Orioles.

While the focus will be on the return of Cleveland’s Shane Bieber to the mound, a look at the MLB point spreads shows that Dean Kremer and the Orioles are priced at -118 to win on Friday. It would be Baltimore’s MLB-best 51st road win of the season.

Cleveland Guardians has won three of the four meetings against the Orioles.

A quick peek at the MLB schedule will show that this is the second of 10 straight games for Baltimore against teams with losing records.

Cleveland has covered 21 of 32 games when listed as the underdog at home, with Baltimore 19-10 this season when listed as the favorite in road games.

Baltimore (+700) is fourth in the odds to win the World Series, with Cleveland well back at +100000 in the championship odds.

Orioles Looking to Rebound

Baltimore got what it needed from rookie starter Grayson Rodriguez in the series opener, as he allowed just two runs with seven strikeouts in five innings.

However, Baltimore was just 2 of 10 with runners in scoring position, while two of the Cleveland players who reached with a walk came around to score in Thursday’s 5-2 loss.

Those are the kinds of issues that can short-circuit title dreams when the playoffs roll around. Keep that in mind regarding the Orioles vs Guardians game preview.

Baltimore has won six of its last eight games against AL Central teams.

The Ace is Back for Cleveland

The biggest news for Cleveland is that Shane Bieber is set to make his first MLB start since July 9. Still, the Orioles vs Guardians game preview has Cleveland listed as the underdog with a Moneyline of +101.

Things didn’t go too well for Bieber in the last two starts as he allowed 15 hits and eight runs in 11 innings. The hope is that a healthy Bieber is ready to return to the form that had him listed as one of the top American League Cy Young Award candidates coming into the 2023 season.

His previous outing against Baltimore in 2023 didn’t go well, as Bieber surrendered eight hits and seven runs in four innings on May 31. Cleveland did win the game 12-8.

Cleveland has won its last five home games.

Who’s Hot

• Yannier Cano, Baltimore Orioles P: Cano has allowed one hit and no earned runs in 3.1 innings in his last four appearances.
• Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians P: Clase has allowed three hits and no runs with five strikeouts in four innings in his last four appearances.
• Andres Gimenez, Cleveland Guardians IF: Gimenez is 10-of-21 with four runs, two extra-base hits, and five RBIs in his last five games.
• Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles C: Rutschman is 9-19 with five runs, five doubles, a home run, and five RBIs in his last five games.

Who’s Not

• Danny Coulombe, Baltimore Orioles P: Coulombe has given up three hits and two runs while retiring a total of three hitters in his last two outings.
• Cam Gallagher, Cleveland Guardians C: Gallagher is 1-for-13 with seven strikeouts over his last five games.
• Eli Morgan, Cleveland Guardians P: Morgan has surrendered six hits and three runs in 4.1 innings over his last four games.
• Ramos Urias, Baltimore Orioles SS: Urias has two hits, both singles, in his last nine games.

Orioles vs Guardians Injury Update

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is on the MLB injured list with a shoulder issue. Closer Felix Bautista is nearing a return, with pitcher Dillon Tate not expected back until early October.

For Cleveland, while Bieber is back, the Guardians are without rookie pitcher Tanner Bibee.

Orioles vs Guardians Betting Preview

The teams were just 5-of-19 with runners in scoring position in the series opener, so perhaps that is why the total is set at 8.

Six of the last eight games between the Orioles and Guardians went under the total. Each of the previous seven meetings was decided by at least three runs.

Since the start of the 2022 season, when it comes to the baseball games between the teams, the road team is 6-4 in the series between the Orioles and Guardians.

The total has gone over in 10 of Baltimore’s last 12 road games as well as in 11 of the Orioles’ last 16 games against American League teams.

The total has gone over in six of Cleveland’s last 10 matchups with AL East teams.

Baltimore is 50-25 this season when listed as the favorite, with Cleveland 35-41 as the underdog. The Orioles have covered 55 of the 78 road games, while the Guardians are 37-39 against the spread at home.

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

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