Guardians vs Astros predictions
The Guardians are coming into this matchup with a little momentum, and there are a few guys I’m especially interested to watch. Jose Ramirez has been the heartbeat of this lineup all year, and, honestly, I think he’s primed to get on base at least once or twice, maybe even knock in a run with the way he’s locked in right now. Steven Kwan’s contact approach should help him slap a couple of singles and possibly swipe a bag if he gets on. On the mound, Joey Cantillo has proven he can go deep enough into games to keep Cleveland in it; if he can keep the Astros’ bats honest, I wouldn’t be shocked if he pushes close to six innings while fanning around five or six. It’ll all boil down to whether the bats around Ramirez can string together enough hits to support their pitching.
The Astros, though, are going to be tough to crack, especially at Daikin Park, where they’re absolute monsters. Hunter Brown has been solid at home, and I could see him settling in quickly—limiting the damage to a couple of runs while hitting his stride around the fifth or sixth inning. Offensively, even with Jeremy Pena sidelined, Houston’s lineup is still stacked. Guys like Jose Altuve are always a threat—he’s likely to collect a couple of hits, maybe even go for extra bases—while Isaac Paredes has been sneaky good with the long ball and could absolutely drive in a run or two. Watch for Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini to chip in with timely hits as well, especially if Cleveland tries to work around Paredes.
Looking at the overall matchup, it feels like Houston’s got a slight edge here, especially at home with the way their lineup consistently hits for average and power. The Guardians just haven’t been able to string together hits all season long, and with Brown on the bump, it’s hard to envision them breaking out in a big way. If Cleveland’s bullpen gets tested early, look for the Astros to capitalize late. My gut says Houston takes this one—they just have a little too much firepower, especially in their own park. It promises to be a fun battle, though, so don’t count out some late-inning drama!
