Cleveland Guardians vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Preview, Predictions and Picks for September 20, 2024

Published on:
Sep 20, 2024 6:14 AM
The St. Louis Cardinals, riding high after Donovan's impressive 4-hit performance, are set to take on the first-place Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium on Friday, September 20th at 8:15 PM. The Guardians, currently leading the AL Central with an 89-65 record, will look to capitalize on their 41-37 road record against the Cardinals, who hold a 42-36 mark at home. This interleague matchup promises to be an exciting showdown between two talented teams.
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Optimal Staff
Cleveland Guardians
St. Louis Cardinals

Guardians vs Cardinals starting pitchers

  • Kyle Gibson for St. Louis Cardinals
  • Ben Lively for Cleveland Guardians

Guardians vs Cardinals statistics

Stat Guardians Cardinals
Hits 1213 (23rd) 1277 (13th)
Batting Average .238 (20th) .246 (13th)
Runs Batted In 643 (15th) 595 (23rd)
Runs 681 (14th) 626 (24th)
Home Runs 175 (13th) 156 (Tied-23rd)
Walks 449 (20th) 446 (21st)
Stolen Bases 143 (5th) 90 (20th)
Strikeouts 1147 (26th) 1245 (22nd)
Pitches 21848 (25th) 22547 (12th)

St. Louis Cardinals recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
9/19/24 vs Pittsburgh Pirates L 3-2
9/18/24 vs Pittsburgh Pirates W 10-5
9/17/24 vs Pittsburgh Pirates W 3-1
9/16/24 vs Pittsburgh Pirates W 4-0
9/15/24 @ Toronto Blue Jays L 3-2

Cleveland Guardians recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
9/19/24 vs Minnesota Twins W 3-2 F/10
9/18/24 vs Minnesota Twins W 5-4 F/10
9/17/24 vs Minnesota Twins L 4-1
9/16/24 vs Minnesota Twins W 4-3
9/15/24 vs Tampa Bay Rays W 2-0

Guardians vs Cardinals predictions

As the Cleveland Guardians get ready to face the St. Louis Cardinals, all eyes will likely be on Jose Ramirez, who's been a standout this season with 35 homers and an impressive 107 RBIs. Ramirez's consistency at the plate might just be the edge the Guardians need, especially with Will Brennan expected to contribute significantly with his speed and ability to get on base effectively. On the mound, Ben Lively's decent ERA of 3.87 suggests that he'll be a key factor in keeping the Cardinals' hitters at bay, providing stability and depth to the Guardians' pitching rotation.

Switching gears to the St. Louis Cardinals, Brendan Donovan, coming off a thrilling 4-hit game, seems primed to keep his momentum rolling. His ability to find gaps in the defense could play a pivotal role in the Cardinals' strategy. Meanwhile, Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt are expected to bring power and precision, crucial for driving in runs and putting pressure on the Guardians' pitchers. Speaking of pitching, Kyle Gibson will need to harness his strikeout ability and minimize walks to keep the Guardians' lineup in check.

Coming into this matchup, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation, and it feels like a closely contested battle is on the horizon. Given the tough pitching matchup and the offensive firepower on both sides, predicting a winner isn't straightforward. However, the Cardinals might have a slight edge playing at home at Busch Stadium, coupled with the momentum from Donovan's recent performance. As long as their pitchers manage to keep the Guardians' hitters in control, the Cardinals could very well walk away with a hard-fought victory.

St. Louis Cardinals injuries

  • Tink Hence (RP): Day-To-Day
  • Drew Rom (SP): 60-Day-IL
  • Lance Lynn (SP): 15-Day-IL
  • Willson Contreras (C): 10-Day-IL
  • Keynan Middleton (RP): 60-Day-IL

Cleveland Guardians injuries

  • James Karinchak (RP): 60-Day-IL
  • Petey Halpin (CF): Day-To-Day
  • Alex Cobb (SP): 15-Day-IL
  • Steven Kwan (LF): 10-Day-IL
  • Trevor Stephan (RP): 60-Day-IL

Guardians vs Cardinals game info

Venue Busch Stadium
Location St. Louis, Missouri
First pitch Fri 8:15 PM
Temperature 85°
Chance of Rain 0%

Cleveland Guardians vs. St. Louis Cardinals Betting Odds

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