Pittsburgh Pirates at Cleveland Guardians Game 1

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Pirates(50-47)

PWWWP

+1.5o7.5

Guardians(51-46)

PWWWW

-1.5u7.5

Best BetGuardians -118

Cleveland's price reflects a real gap right now — Williams has been one of the better starters in the league this year, and the Guardians have won four of their last five. Jones is nasty in flashes but still on a strict pitch count as he works back from elbow surgery, which caps his ceiling in a game his team needs length from. Backing the home side here is straightforward value given the form gap.

Pirates

• +Won 3 of last 4 games before Friday's rainout
• +Jones threw 6 perfect innings last time out
• +14-5 blowout win shows offensive upside
• −Missing Cruz, Rodriguez and Horwitz on IL
• −Jones capped near 80 pitches, limits length

Guardians

• +Won 4 straight games entering the off day
• +Williams leads AL in strikeouts, sub-3.35 ERA
• +10-4 record, tied for most wins in MLB
• −Jose Ramirez still out recovering from hamate fracture
• −Herrin, Martinez also out with injuries

This game exists because Friday got wiped out by wildfire smoke drifting down from Ontario, forcing Cleveland to jam the postponed opener into a split doubleheader on Saturday. That means Jared Jones and Gavin Williams, both originally lined up for Friday, slide over to the 1:10 PM ET matinee instead of losing their turns.

Jared Jones

(2-2)·3.81 ERA

Jul 8 vs Braves

ND

6.0IP

0ER

8K

0BB

77P

Gavin Williams

(10-6)·3.71 ERA

Jul 9 @ Twins

W

7.0IP

2ER

11K

1BB

103P

Jones is still building back up after missing all of last season following UCL internal brace surgery, but his last outing was the story of the week in Pittsburgh — he retired the first 18 Braves he faced on July 8 before getting pulled after six perfect innings on a 77-pitch count, the first pitcher since 1920 to throw at least six perfect frames and not get the win. Williams, meanwhile, has been arguably the AL's best pitcher this year, leading the league in strikeouts and sitting near the top of the majors in wins with an ERA in the low-3s. Both bullpens now have to cover extra innings across two games in one day, which is worth watching as the day wears on.

Cleveland's still missing Jose Ramirez, who fractured his left hamate bone in mid-June and has been progressing through baseball activities with an eye on a return around the trade deadline — he's not walking through that door Saturday, but the M/A/S/H-tent version of the Guardians has still ripped off four straight wins before Friday's rainout-turned-tie. Pittsburgh's answered with wins of its own, riding a stretch that includes a 14-5 blowout of Milwaukee, even with Oneil Cruz, Endy Rodriguez and Spencer Horwitz all watching from the injured list.

Pittsburgh Pirates

(7)

• 10-Day-ILEndy Rodriguez (C) — Rodriguez (hip) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus Atlanta.07/08
• 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz (1B) — Horwitz (hamstring) has begun a running program at the Pirates' spring training complex in Florida, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/07
• 10-Day-ILOneil Cruz (CF) — Cruz (hand) has resumed swinging a bat, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/07
• 15-Day-ILWilber Dotel (RP) — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Dotel (lat) will make another rehab appearance with a minor-league affiliate Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILEvan Sisk (RP) — Sisk was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.07/04
• 60-Day-ILKonnor Griffin (SS) — The Pirates transferred Griffin (finger) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/11
• 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.06/07

Cleveland Guardians

(3)

• 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez (LF) — Martinez (foot) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.07/17
• 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
• 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

Pittsburgh Pirates

(50-47)

Jul 17P@ Guardians0-0

Jul 12Wvs Brewers14-5

Jul 11Wvs Brewers3-2

Jul 11Wvs Brewers7-6

Jul 10Pvs Brewers0-0

Cleveland Guardians

(51-46)

Jul 17Pvs Pirates0-0

Jul 12W@ Marlins5-2

Jul 11W@ Marlins4-1

Jul 10W@ Marlins3-2

Jul 9W@ Twins5-2

Neither club is walking into this buried or dying for separation — these are two teams within a game of each other jockeying for position, and this particular getaway-day double-dip adds a wrinkle nobody planned for. Whichever team wins the bullpen math across both games probably wins the day.