At 7:10 PM ET, Progressive Field will play host to an intriguing interleague matchup as the San Diego Padres take on the Cleveland Guardians. As the Guardians take the field as money line favorites at -139, the Padres will be looking to upset the odds, sitting at +118.
Currently standing 3rd in the NL West with a 50-49 record, the Padres face a challenging opponent in the AL Central leaders, the Guardians, who boast a record of 58-37. Both teams have had their share of highs and lows this season, and tonight’s clash promises to add another layer of excitement to their campaigns.
Pitching Duel: Waldron vs. Bibee
Starting for the Padres will be Matt Waldron, who has made 19 starts this season. Waldron holds a 5-8 record and a respectable 3.71 ERA, with opponents batting just .225 against him. He has a WHIP of 1.17 but is coming off a shaky outing on July 12th where he gave up four earned runs.
Opposite him, the Guardians will have Tanner Bibee on the mound. With a 7-4 record and a 3.77 ERA, Bibee has shown consistency in his 19 starts, sporting a WHIP of 1.12. He has delivered seven quality starts and boasts an average of 10.54 strikeouts per nine innings, amassing 123 strikeouts in total. Like Waldron, Bibee gave up four earned runs in his last start but had won two consecutive starts prior to that.
Padres' Recent Performance
San Diego is looking to bounce back from a recent 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Randy Vasquez started and took the loss in that game, pitching five innings and allowing four runs on four hits. The Padres' bullpen contributed another two runs in the eighth inning, sealing their fate.
The Padres have a road record of 24-21 and have gone 15-17 in divisional games. As underdogs, their record stands at 21-20, but they've lost their last two games in this role. Despite a season record of 50-49, they are seven games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and have lost two of their last three against the Braves.
Guardians' Home Struggles
Cleveland, on the other hand, has faced its own challenges at home, holding a 1-4 record in their last five home games and a 4-6 record in their previous ten games overall. Their recent series against the Rays concluded with a 2-0 loss, where Ben Lively struck out the side in the first inning but later allowed two runs in the third inning.
The Guardians, however, have some offensive firepower. They average 4.8 runs per game with a .243 team batting average, ranking 11th in MLB in batting average and 10th in home runs. Offensive standouts include José Ramírez, with 77 RBIs and 23 home runs, and Josh Naylor, who has punched in 70 RBIs. Ramírez's batting average stands at .271 for the season.
Key Players to Watch
Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. bring power for the Padres, each with 14 home runs. Profar also leads with 59 RBIs and has gone 7/22 in his last seven games. Manny Machado, meanwhile, is riding a three-game hitting streak, though his batting average has dipped to .231 over the past week.
For the Guardians, Ramírez and Naylor will be key figures to watch, given their significant contributions to the team's offense. The Guardians have struggled recently but still maintain a lead in the AL Central, underscoring their resilience and capability.
Game Expectations
The over/under line for this game is set at 7.5 runs, reflecting the potential for a high-scoring affair. Cleveland games average 8.7 runs per game, while Padres games average 8.9 runs. Notably, 58.6% of Padres games and 66.3% of Guardians games have gone over the line this season.
In a tight forecast, the Guardians are predicted to edge out the Padres with a 6-5 victory, with both teams expected to register nine hits each. Tanner Bibee is projected to finish with six strikeouts, while Matt Waldron is anticipated to chalk up five strikeouts but is expected to yield more earned runs than Bibee.
As the teams prepare to clash, fans can look forward to a competitive and engaging encounter under the lights at Progressive Field.