Game Time: 4:10 pm ET, Wednesday, August 24th 2022 

Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, California

Where to Watch:  MLB.tv, MLBN

 

Opening MLB Odds at USA Sportsbooks

DraftKings: (will update)

Caesars:  

PointsBet: 

 

Guardians: 64-56, 1st place AL Central

Padres: 68-56, 2nd place NL West

This is a prediction for game 2 in this series.  Game 1 is yet to play (Tuesday night).  The Guardians have lost the last few games, while the Padres have won the last few games.  They will face off and this prediction will cover game 2 on Wednesday night.

This is really a battle of division strength.  If you play in a tough division your numbers tend to be “hard-earned”, if you play in a weak division your numbers tend to be a “gift”.  The Cleveland Guardians may be in the easiest division in all of baseball… The AL Central may have to be put up against the NL Central to really find out which one is easier… but all signs point to “easy division”.  The San Diego Padres play in the hardest division (over the last 4 seasons) in the MLB… They routinely get shelled by the Dodgers and must go up against the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Rockies… The D-Backs and Rockies have been jokes over the last several season… but how do you explain the amazing hitting of the Rockies and the OK pitching on the D-Backs.  The Padres are in 2nd place in the Nl West and the Guardians are in 1st place in the AL Central… yet the Padres have the better overall record.  This is close both in theory and in the numbers… we MUST check the pitching matchup… and then find the Great Betting opportunity.

The Cleveland Guardians have won 6 of their last 10 games.  With league average hitting and league above average pitching… They have done wonders this summer.  Slowly rising and overtaking 1st place in the AL Central.  They went 1-1 versus the Chicago White Sox, 2-2 against the Detroit Tigers, 2-1 against the Toronto Blue Jays, and 1-0 against the Detroit Tigers.  The team is playing together and making the most of their opportunities… but do they have enough?

The San Diego Padres have been punching bags for the league in recent days.  August has not been kind.  After trading for future 400 million dollar deal holder and great hitter Juan Soto… The Padres were kicked in the nuts with the news that their swollen player, ready to return from injury, Fernando Tatis Jr tested positive for steroids.  The dream lineup of Machado, Soto, and Tatis Jr…. will not happen this year.  Fernando said, through swollen neck muscles, that his mistake was taking medication to cure him of ringworm.  OK.  The Padres have won 5 of their last 10 games.  They went 2-2 versus the Washington Nationals, 1-2 against the Miami Marlins, and 2-1 against the Washington Nationals.  They need to do better with what they have.  

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CLE: 64-56, +974 ML, 57-57-6 O/U, they are 32-31 in road games.

SD: 68-56, -654 ML, 56-64-4 O/U, THEY ARE 35-26 IN HOME GAMES.

The Guardians are 16th in scoring with 4.34 runs per game, 8th in batting average with .252, and 15th in OBP with .315.

The Padres are 15th in scoring with 4.43, 16th in batting average with .242, and 9th in OBP with .319.

The Guardians pitching is 9th in team ERA, 6th in WHIP, and the fielders are 19th in errors with 69 on the season so far.

The Padres pitching is 10th in ERA with 3.78, 7th in WHIP with 1.21, and the fielders are 5th in errors with 52 on the season so far.

 

Our prediction for Wednesday, August 24th is…  Guardians 6 - Padres 3

 

Bet on teh Guardians on the moneyline.  It is that simple.  The Padres have scooped up nothing in the way of wins this August.  Laugh at the Padres and take your money.

 

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The Guardians are 68-99 (-6.3 UNITS) as an underdog of +100 or higher last 3 seasons.

The Padres are 140-105 (-34.4 UNITS) as a favorite of -110 or higher the last 3 seasons.

Guardians: C A Hedges (ankle) Ques

Padres: SS Fernando Tatis JR (steroids/suspension) Out ** and 5 relief pitchers.

Guardians: RHP Cal Quantrill, 9-5, 3.77 ERA, 88 strikeouts in 136 innings pitched.  1.22 WHIP.  This 27 year old has a winning record as a starter this season… and a winning record over his career since his 2019 debut. He may be ready to debut for the league soon.

Padres: TBD

Guardians: LF Steven Kwan, SS Amed Rosario, 3B Jose Ramirez, 1B Josh Naylor, 2B Andres Giminez, DH Oscar Gonzalez, RF Will Benson, C Luke Maile, CF Myles Straw

Padres:  LF Jurickson Profar, RF Juan Soto, 3B Manny Machado, DH Josh Bell, 2B Jake Cronenworth, 1B Wil Myers, CF Trent Grisham, SS Ha-Seong Kim, C Jorge Alfaro

 

Guardians: Terry “you know my name” Francona

Padres: Bob “ringworm is a real problem” Melvin

Partly Cloudy, 76*, Humidity 74%.  Wind 8 mph. That nearby Pacific Ocean drenches San Diego in humidity in late August.