The Cleveland Guardians and the San Francisco Giants meet Monday in MLB action from Oracle Park. Cleveland enters this one after a weekend series versus the Angels. The Guardians split the first pair, then on Saturday Cleveland lost by four. In the finale the Guardians took a one-run loss. As for San Francisco, they eked out a win over the Rockies in their weekend series opener, then took a blowout win in game two. In the Sunday game the Giants posted a three-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Cleveland Guardians 

The Guardians took a tough 3-2 loss to the Angels in their Thursday opener, but then bounced back for a 6-3 win in game two. On Saturday Cleveland took a 6-2 defeat to go down 2-1 in the series. In the Sunday finale the Guardians lost the set with a 2-1 defeat. Kole Calhoun had the lone RBI with a solo homer among two hits. 

As starting pitcher for Monday’s game the Guardians will go with Gavin Williams. In his 14 starts this year Williams is 2-5 with a 3.34 ERA and 72 Ks in 70.0 innings. Williams is 1-3 with a 3.34 ERA over his last seven starts. 

Cleveland Guardians Team Facts

• The Guardians have won each of their last four games as road underdogs following a loss.
• The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last six games as road underdogs following a loss.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last eight night games against NL West opponents.
• The Guardians have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games as road underdogs against National League opponents.
• The Guardians have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games as road underdogs against National League opponents.

San Francisco Giants 

Over on the Giants’ side, they powered out a 9-8 win over the Rockies back on Friday, then in the Saturday game San Francisco notched 13 team hits in a 9-1 win. In game three the Giants came back from a 3-0 deficit early to ultimately win 6-3. Home runs came from Their Estrada, Joc Pederson and Mitch Haniger (two RBI; two runs). 

In the starting pitcher position for the Giants on Monday it’ll be Alex Cobb. In 2023 over 26 starts Cobb is 7-6 with a 3.74 ERA and 128 Ks in 144.1 innings. Cobb is 1-3 with a 5.87 ERA over his last seven starts. 

San Francisco Giants Team Facts

• The home team has won each of the Giants’ last nine games.
• The Giants have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against the Guardians following a win.
• The Giants have lost the first inning in each of their last three games against AL Central opponents.
• The Giants have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games against AL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Giants’ last six games against AL Central opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The San Francisco Giants ranks 30th in the league for steals this season (48).
• The San Francisco Giants ranks 1st in the league for walks allowed this season (360).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 30th in the league for home runs this season (109).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 2nd in the league for strikeouts against this season (1017).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stick with the Guardians here. Probably not touching it, though. Williams had a bad outing versus the Dodgers back on August 24 (4.1 innings; five earned) but in his last two appearances he’s done better. Williams is 1-0 in that pair with 6.0 innings, one earned, one hit and five walks combined. In their Sunday matchup the Guardians out-hit the Angels 8-3 but couldn’t get anything going on the scoreboard. that makes two or fewer runs in four of the last five games for Cleveland. They’re really going to have to get the offense going to win this opener, but if the bats come around I think they’ll be okay.