Cardinals vs Guardians predictions
When you look at the St. Louis Cardinals heading into this matchup with the Cleveland Guardians, some individual players are begging to break out. Alec Burleson’s been one of the most consistent bats in the lineup, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him keep racking up hits and make serious noise—think a multi-hit game with maybe an extra-base knock for good measure. Lars Nootbaar’s power is sneaky, and with the way he’s been swinging lately, he’s definitely due to send one deep. Willson Contreras, back in action and swinging freely, is always dangerous with men on, so don’t be shocked if he comes through with a couple of RBIs. And let’s not forget about Miles Mikolas on the mound—the righty is good for a handful of strikeouts and can grind through five or six solid innings to keep the Cardinals in control.
Over on the Cleveland Guardians side, it’s all eyes on Jose Ramirez—if he’s in the lineup, he’s the sparkplug. Ramirez has been hitting well over .300 and bringing big power, so you can picture him finding the gap or even launching one into the stands despite nursing that forearm bruise. Steven Kwan is another bat to watch; with his knack for getting on base and setting the table, expect him to snag a hit or two, maybe score a run if Ramirez or Carlos Santana brings him around. On the pitching bump, Slade Cecconi will try to quiet the Cardinals’ attack for as long as he can, but he’ll need to be sharp with so many hot bats coming his way.
So who’s grabbing the win at Progressive Field? With the Cardinals rolling in hot on a road win streak, they’re looking like the more complete team top to bottom—solid pitching, timely hitting, and a little more firepower at the plate. The Guardians keep things close, especially if Ramirez is healthy enough to be a difference-maker, but the Cardinals’ ability to string together offense all through the lineup gives them an edge here. Don’t be surprised if St. Louis stretches that road streak another night.
