Game Time: 8:10 pm ET, Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Where to Watch: CLEGUARDIANS.tv, SCHN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Moneyline odds: Guardians +120, Astros -140; Over/Under: 8 runs
Bet365: Moneyline odds: Guardians +120, Astros -140; Over/Under: 8 runs
BetMGM: Moneyline odds: Guardians +120, Astros -140; Over/Under: 8 runs
Season Record
Cleveland Guardians: 41-48 (4th place, AL Central)
Houston Astros: 55-36 (1st place, AL West)
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Recent Form
Cleveland Guardians: 1-9 last 10
Houston Astros: 7-3 last 10
Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros Preview and Analysis
The Guardians are entering this series off a loss and got swept in their 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 41-48 record overall and have a road record of 21-25. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Astros on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The Guardians won the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 28th in the MLB with a .658 OPS. Joey Cantillo is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Slade Cecconi is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 3-4 with a 3.56 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 2 HR, and 2 BB with 5 SO on 6 hits through 6 IP against the Detroit Tigers.
The Astros are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 55-36 record overall and have a home record of 32-15. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Guardians on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Astros lost the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 8th in the MLB with a .738 OPS. Hunter Brown is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Brandon Walter is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 5 earned runs, 1 homer, and 0 walks with 3 strikeouts on 8 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Colorado Rockies.
Guardians vs Astros Prediction
The current betting odds have the Guardians listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Astros have looked great in their games this season with their 55-36 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL West with one of the best records in the entire MLB. They have also looked great in their own ballpark this year with their 32-15 home record. Meanwhile, the Guardians haven't looked good in their games this season with their 41-48 record overall which has them right near the bottom of the AL Central. They haven't been a good road team either with their 21-25 road record this season. The Guardians have also been in a terrible slump lately as they are 1-9 in their last 10 games, but they do have the better pitching matchup here and they are going to be desperate to turn things around. Cecconi is on the mound for the Guardians in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 3-4 with a 3.56 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs lately. His team has lost 2 games in a row now with him starting, but he only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start and the Guardians offense looked a lot better in the series opener too. The Astros are going with Walter in this one and he hasn't been a solid option for them this year. He is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA and he has been giving up more runs lately. He gave up 5 earned runs in his last start and his team has also lost 2 of their last 3 games with him starting. The Astros have been really hot lately, but they don't have the best pitchers on deck in this series and the Guardians can take advantage of that with their desperation. The best way to place a bet here is on the Guardians to win this game.
Guardians Astros Prediction: Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, July 9, 2025 (8:10 pm ET start time) is Guardians 4 Astros 3.
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MLB Betting Trends
Cleveland Guardians: 44-34 (+5.8 units) on the moneyline against AL West opponents. 148-144 (+7.6 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 or better. 39-34 (+7.5 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.45 or better. 32-18 UNDER vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 1 or more HR's/start.
Houston Astros: 50-41 (-9.3 units) on the moneyline against AL Central opponents. 164-128 (-28.7 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 118-98 (-26.1 units) on the moneyline in home games. 94-65 UNDER vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season.
Key Injuries
Cleveland Guardians: L. Thomas (CF) Ten Day IL - Foot. G. Arias (SS) Ten Day IL - Ankle. W. Brennan (RF) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. A. Walters (RP) Sixty Day IL - Lat. B. Lively (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. S. Bieber (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Stephan (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Means (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. S. Hentges (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.
Houston Astros: L. Guillorme (3B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. Y. Alvarez (LF) Sixty Day IL - Hand. J. Pena (SS) Ten Day IL - Rib. S. Dubin (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. P. Leon (RF) Sixty Day IL - Knee. B. Rodgers (2B) Ten Day IL - Oblique. J. Melton (LF) Ten Day IL - Ankle. S. Arrighetti (SP) Sixty Day IL - Thumb. Z. Dezenzo (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. R. Blanco (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. McCormick (LF) Ten Day IL - Oblique. H. Wesneski (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. L. Garcia (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Javier (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. France (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.
Notable Quotes
“Throughout this run -- and not just the 10 games but really the last month, five weeks -- we’ve had these back-and-forth games, back-and-forth games. We’ve won some, we’ve lost some, and that’s kind of who we are this year.” - Stephen Vogt after his team’s win against the Astros in their game on Monday.
“The ball got glove first and then hit him in the head, so he’s being evaluated for a concussion. It was scary. Thank God, he got the glove up in time.” - Joe Espada after his team’s loss against the Guardians in their game on Monday.
Starting Lineups
Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan (L) LF
David Fry (R) DH
José Ramírez (S) 3B
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Nolan Jones (L) RF
Angel Martínez (S) CF
Will Wilson (R) 2B
Bo Naylor (L) C
Brayan Rocchio (S) SS
Houston Astros
Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
Cam Smith (R) RF
Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Yainer Diaz (R) C
Victor Caratini (S) 1B
Cooper Hummel (S) DH
Taylor Trammell (L) LF
Zack Short (R) SS
Kenedy Corona (R) CF
Statistical Leaders
Cleveland Guardians
Batting Average: José Ramírez (.298)
Hits: Steven Kwan (100)
Home Runs: José Ramírez (15)
RBI: José Ramírez (42)
Stolen Bases: José Ramírez (22)
Wins: Gavin Williams (5)
Saves: Emmanuel Clase (19)
ERA: Nic Enright (2.08)
Houston Astros
Batting Average: Zack Short (.444)
Hits: Jeremy Peña (102)
Home Runs: Isaac Paredes (19)
RBI: Isaac Paredes (49)
Stolen Bases: Jeremy Peña (15)
Wins: Framber Valdez (10)
Saves: Josh Hader (25)
ERA: Héctor Neris (0.00)
Managers:
Cleveland Guardians: Stephen Vogt (2nd season)
Houston Astros: Joe Espada (2nd season)