Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Guardians Prediction:

The Cleveland Guardians have seen their lead dwindle in the American League Central since the All-Star Break. They look to increase their lead on Saturday when they host the Texas Rangers.

Ben Lively starts for Cleveland. He owns a 3.68 ERA despite a 4.91 fielding independent and 1.6 home runs per nine innings. Lively has given up three earned runs or fewer in nine of his past 11 starts.

Even an average start from Lively will get the Guardians to a bullpen with a league-best 2.68 ERA. No other team entered Friday with better than a 3.27 bullpen ERA. Texas ranks 26th in this category with a 4.37 ERA.

The Rangers are hoping the bullpen doesn’t have to fill too many innings with Jon Gray receiving his first start since July 23.

Gray made a relief appearance on Tuesday, August 20, to ramp up for this start. He owns a 3.75 ERA, but the team is 3-6 in the nine games he has pitched in since June 17, posting a 6.68 ERA with over 1.3 home runs per nine innings allowed in this span.

Cleveland has been a far better team at the plate at home than on the road, averaging 4.9 runs per game at home compared to 4.2 runs per game on the road, still higher than Texas’ scoring.

With the Rangers slipping down to 21st in run production this season and question marks as to what Gray will provide, the steady Guardians bullpen will be the difference on Saturday.

MLB Pick: Cleveland Guardians -115

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