The Cleveland Guardians (32-37) are on the road to face the Arizona Diamondbacks (42-28) at Chase Field on Saturday. The Diamondbacks took Friday’s series opener 5-1. Starter Zac Gallen went seven innings to get the win, giving up one run on six hits and striking out seven.
Christian Walker went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI in the win. Jose Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a solo home run for the Guardians, stretching his on-base streak to 10 games.
ON THE MOUND
Shane Bieber (5-3, 3.29 ERA) is set to take the mound for Cleveland. The righty threw seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 5-0 home win over the Astros on Sunday. He got the win, scattering three hits while striking out nine and walking one.
Bieber is making his first appearance against the Diamondbacks this season. Bieber made one start against the Diamondbacks in 2022, a 7-4 home victory on August 3. He surrendered two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out eight.
For Arizona, left-hander Tommy Henry (3-1, 4.86 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Guardians. Henry made one start against the Guardians in 2022, throwing five innings in a 7-4 road defeat on August 3.
He gave up four hits and walked three while striking out three in the loss. In his last start on Monday, Henry took a no-decision at home against the Phillies. He threw 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, striking out six and walking one in the 9-8 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Cleveland has averaged 3.4 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 3.8. Against lefties like Henry this season, the Guardians have a .681 OPS, the third lowest in MLB.
Andres Gimenez is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a .893 OPS in 63 at-bats. Arizona is averaging only 4.8 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 5.1 for the season.
The D-backs have a .773 OPS against righties in 2023, the fourth highest in the league. With a 1.065 OPS over 164 at-bats, Corbin Carroll has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Cleveland is 16-20 away from Progressive Field in 2023, scoring 4.1 runs per game while allowing 4.5 runs. Arizona has gone 22-17 at their home park this season, averaging 4.8 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. Arizona is 7-3 in the last 10 games at Chase Field between the teams with an average scoreline of 6.1-4.0.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Guardians are second in the AL Central, two games behind the division-leading Twins. The Diamondbacks lead the NL West by three games over the Dodgers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Cleveland Guardians (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
