Cleveland Guardians at Minnesota Twins

By Bush StaffUpdated 43d ago·2 min read
Cleveland GuardiansCLE(47-46)
Minnesota TwinsMIN(46-47)
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CLE
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MIN
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Gavin Williams (9-4, 3.79) took the ball for Cleveland looking to salvage the finale after dropping the first two games of this series, while Bailey Ober (6-3, 4.46) got the start for Minnesota at 12:40 PM CT with a chance to complete the sweep and pull the Twins within a game of first place.

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FINAL
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ML
Total
Guardians(47-46)
LLLLW
5
Twins(46-47)
WWWWL
2
Best BetGuardians -131
Postgame

Cash — Cleveland won outright 5-2, with the pitching bounce-back bull point playing out exactly as drawn up.

Pregame

We backed Cleveland at -125 before first pitch, betting the Guardians would find their footing after getting run over the first two games of this series. That's exactly what happened — Williams settled in and the offense scratched across just enough to get the win. A banged-up lineup still found a way against a Twins team that had won 4 in a row.

The Guardians came in having lost 4 of their last 5, and their lineup is banged up — Jose Ramirez is still working his way back from hand surgery and Angel Martinez remains out with a foot issue, so Cleveland has been piecing things together without two regulars. Minnesota, meanwhile, walked in on a 4-game win streak but is dealing with its own attrition: Byron Buxton is on the injured list with a hip issue and the Twins' pitching depth has taken hit after hit this month.

Cleveland Guardians
Gavin Williams
(10-5)·4.00 ERA
Jul 3 vs White Sox
ND
4.2IP
3ER
6K
2BB
79P
07/09 Lineup
Minnesota Twins
Bailey Ober
(7-3)·4.56 ERA
May 30 @ Pirates
L
4.2IP
7ER
3K
1BB
97P
07/09 Lineup

None of that stopped Cleveland from playing spoiler. The Guardians scratched across single runs in the 2nd and 6th before breaking it open with a 2-run 7th, and that was enough cushion to hold off the home team and take the finale 5-2.

It was a quiet line for both offenses — Cleveland worked with 6 hits and Minnesota managed just 3 — but the Guardians made theirs count in the right innings. Williams didn't factor into a decision in his last outing against the White Sox, but this was the kind of get-right game Cleveland needed after getting hammered the previous two nights in this same building.

Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians
(3)
  • 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez (3B)Ramirez (hand) has been hitting off a tee and is expected to face overhand pitching soon, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.07/05
  • 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez (LF)Martinez (foot) took batting practice Saturday for the first time since landing on the injured list, MLB.com reports.07/05
  • 15-Day-ILTim Herrin (RP)X-rays on Herrin's left elbow came back negative following his removal from Wednesday's game against Minnesota, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.07/09
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
(10)
  • 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers (C)Twins manager Derek Shelton said Tuesday that Jeffers (hand) will remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul "for at least the next three or four days," Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.07/08
  • 10-Day-ILByron Buxton (CF)The Twins placed Buxton (hip) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.07/07
  • 15-Day-ILAnthony Banda (RP)Banda underwent surgery to repair his left lat strain and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/09
  • 15-Day-ILConnor Prielipp (SP)Prielipp did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Twins, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.07/09
  • 15-Day-ILMarco Raya (RP)The Twins placed Raya on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a right shoulder impingement.07/08
  • 15-Day-ILCole Sands (RP)Sands (forearm) tossed a perfect inning in his rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.07/08
  • 15-Day-ILMick Abel (SP)Abel underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.07/06
  • 60-Day-ILGarrett Acton (RP)Acton (shoulder) was expected to resume facing hitters last week, MLB.com reports.07/06
  • 60-Day-ILDavid Festa (SP)The Twins announced June 1 that Festa (shoulder) has started a throwing progression, MLB.com reports.06/11
  • 60-Day-ILPablo Lopez (SP)The Twins placed Lopez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08

For the Twins, the loss stings more than a typical July game — they were 2 games back of the White Sox in the Central and had a real chance to close ground with a sweep. Instead the streak snaps at 4, and Minnesota heads into the next stretch still waiting on Buxton and shorthanded in the bullpen. Cleveland, on the other hand, leaves Target Field with a series split instead of a sweep loss, which for a team scuffling like they have been is a small mercy.

Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians
(47-46)
Jul 8L@ Twins5-6
Jul 7L@ Twins1-3
Jul 5Lvs White Sox6-7
Jul 4Lvs White Sox1-3
Jul 3Wvs White Sox4-3
Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
(46-47)
Jul 8Wvs Guardians6-5
Jul 7Wvs Guardians3-1
Jul 5W@ Yankees6-1
Jul 4W@ Yankees11-4
Jul 3L@ Yankees2-5
MLBCleveland GuardiansMinnesota TwinsPolymarketKalshiGavin WilliamsBailey Ober