Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians: Preview, Predictions and Picks for September 28, 2024

Published on:
Sep 28, 2024 6:12 AM
The Houston Astros look to build on their 1-0 series lead as they face the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 on Saturday, September 28 at 6:10 PM at Progressive Field. The Astros, led by their strong road record, aim to capitalize on their momentum against a formidable Guardians team that has dominated at home with a 50-29 record.
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Optimal Staff
Houston Astros
Cleveland Guardians

Astros vs Guardians starting pitchers

  • Ben Lively for Cleveland Guardians
  • Justin Verlander for Houston Astros

Astros vs Guardians statistics

Stat Astros Guardians
Hits 1439 (2nd) 1254 (24th)
Batting Average .262 (3rd) .238 (21st)
Runs Batted In 699 (11th) 667 (14th)
Runs 736 (11th) 705 (14th)
Home Runs 190 (10th) 184 (12th)
Walks 443 (27th) 466 (Tied-21st)
Stolen Bases 93 (21st) 148 (5th)
Strikeouts 1168 (28th) 1187 (27th)
Pitches 22193 (29th) 22660 (25th)

Cleveland Guardians recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
9/27/24 vs Houston Astros L 5-2
9/25/24 vs Cincinnati Reds W 5-2
9/24/24 vs Cincinnati Reds W 6-1
9/22/24 @ St. Louis Cardinals L 2-1
9/21/24 @ St. Louis Cardinals L 6-5

Houston Astros recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
9/27/24 @ Cleveland Guardians W 5-2
9/25/24 vs Seattle Mariners L 8-1
9/24/24 vs Seattle Mariners W 4-3
9/23/24 vs Seattle Mariners L 6-1
9/22/24 vs Los Angeles Angels L 9-8

Astros vs Guardians predictions

Heading into game 2 against the Cleveland Guardians, the Houston Astros will be leaning heavily on some key players to maintain their series lead. Jose Altuve, always a crucial figure at the plate, is projected to bring in a strong performance with solid hits and potentially a few critical RBIs. Also, keep an eye on Kyle Tucker, whose powerful swing could certainly see him driving in crucial runs and perhaps smashing a homer or two. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander on the mound is expected to recover from his recent shaky outings; his experience in high-pressure games could very well make the difference in holding the Guardians' batting lineup at bay.

On the flip side, the Cleveland Guardians are not short of talent themselves, with Jose Ramirez expected to be a significant threat with his ability to knock in runs and perhaps change the game’s momentum with one of his trademark home runs. Steven Kwan is another player who could be instrumental with his knack for getting on base and using his speed to put the Astros under pressure. Their pitcher, Ben Lively, who has shown some solid innings this season, will need to be at his best to curb the high-powered Astros' hitters.

As for predicting the winner of this matchup, the game seems poised for intense competition. Given the strong lineup and the home-field advantage, the Cleveland Guardians might have a slight edge. However, the Astros have consistently shown resilience and clutch performance under pressure, which could very well see them taking a 2-0 lead in the series. This game could go either way, but with the Astros' seasoned lineup and Verlander’s hopeful return to form, I’d lean towards a tight victory for Houston in game 2.

Cleveland Guardians injuries

  • James Karinchak (RP): 60-Day-IL
  • Alex Cobb (SP): 15-Day-IL
  • Petey Halpin (CF): Day-To-Day
  • Trevor Stephan (RP): 60-Day-IL
  • Shane Bieber (SP): 60-Day-IL

Houston Astros injuries

  • Penn Murfee (RP): 60-Day-IL
  • Kendall Graveman (RP): 60-Day-IL
  • Jairo Solis (SP): Day-To-Day
  • Jayden Murray (SP): Day-To-Day
  • Chas McCormick (LF): 10-Day-IL

Astros vs Guardians game info

Venue Progressive Field
Location Cleveland, Ohio
First pitch Sat 6:10 PM
Temperature 73°
Chance of Rain 0%

Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians Betting Odds

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