See Picks and Betting Line for D-Backs vs Guardians – Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Arizona Diamondbacks

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Cleveland Guardians

On August 7, 2024, the Cleveland Guardians will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a double-header at Progressive Field. Both teams are looking to gain ground in competitive standings, with the Guardians currently sporting a strong 67-45 record, while the Diamondbacks sit at 61-52. This matchup is particularly intriguing as the Guardians are coming off a narrow loss to the Diamondbacks just two days prior, falling 7-6 in a contest that showcased both teams’ offensive capabilities.

Cleveland’s Ben Lively, projected to start, holds a 10-6 record with a solid 3.42 ERA this season. However, advanced metrics suggest he may have been a bit fortunate, as his 4.34 xFIP indicates potential struggles ahead. Lively’s recent performance has been decent; in his last start on August 1, he went 6 innings allowing just 2 earned runs. Facing him is Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt, who has a 5-6 record and a 3.97 ERA. Pfaadt has shown signs of being unlucky, with a 3.31 xERA suggesting he could perform better than his numbers indicate.

The Guardians’ offense ranks 14th in MLB and is led by Jose Ramirez, who has been on fire lately, boasting a .421 batting average and a 1.277 OPS over the past week. In contrast, the Diamondbacks feature Ketel Marte, who has also been productive with a .300 batting average and a .923 OPS this season.

Betting markets view this as a close game, with both teams at a moneyline of -110 and projected totals low at 7.5 runs. Notably, projections suggest the Guardians could score around 4.44 runs, while the Diamondbacks are slightly favored with a projection of 4.65 runs. With both teams capable of putting up runs, this matchup is set to be an exciting one, especially considering the implications of a double-header.

Arizona Diamondbacks Insights

• Arizona Diamondbacks – 2H Moneyline
  The Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen grades out as the 3rd-best in MLB, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT).
  Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a strong bullpen sneakily creates a tougher matchup for the opposing offense and suppresses a game’s runs.

Cleveland Guardians Insights

• Cleveland Guardians – Moneyline (+115)
  The Cleveland Guardians infield defense projects as the strongest out of all the teams in action today.
  Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing hits and runs.