Guardians vs Phillies Picks and Prediction – 7/26/2024

The Friday MLB schedule will get started with a battle of division leaders between the Cleveland Guardians and the Philadelphia Phillies from Citizens Bank Park. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB picks. The Guardians (61-41) are two games above .500 on the road and lead Minnesota by 4.5 games for first place in the AL Central Division. On Thursday, Cleveland batters were limited to four hits and struck out ten times during a 3-0 home loss versus Detroit. 

Thirty-two year old righty Ben Lively (8-6 3.57 ERA) will take the mound for the Guardians in this matchup. Last time out, Lively (5.1 IP) gave up six hits and two runs during a 2-1 home loss versus San Diego. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have won 37 of their first 53 home games and hold a comfortable nine game cushion for the top spot in the NL East Division. On Wednesday, Philadelphia batters went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base during a 5-4 road loss against Minnesota. OF Nick Castellanos collected three hits and scored a run for the Phillies (64-38), who have dropped six of their previous ten games overall.

Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson will turn to talented left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (7-5 2.97 ERA) on Friday. In ten home starts, Sanchez has not allowed a home run and owns a 6-1 record with a 1.50 ERA.