Guardians vs Padres Picks and Prediction – 4/1/2025

This Monday, Luis L. Ortiz and the Cleveland Guardians face off against Kyle Hart and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Get our MLB Picks all season long! Both pitchers will be making their first start of the season, with the Guardians sitting at 2-1 after a 6-2 win over the Royals on Sunday, while the Padres remain undefeated at 4-0 following a tight 1-0 victory against Atlanta on Saturday.

Ortiz is an intriguing arm for Cleveland, possessing solid velocity and an improving secondary pitch mix. The Guardians’ rotation is one of the more underrated groups in baseball, and Ortiz has the opportunity to prove he belongs. However, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís Jr. present a major challenge for the young right-hander, as the Padres’ offense has shown it can capitalize on mistakes early in games.

On the other side, Hart is getting his first big-league start in a Padres uniform. The left-hander will need to navigate a Guardians lineup that isn’t loaded with power but excels at making contact and putting pressure on defenses. José Ramírez and Bo Naylor will be the key hitters for Cleveland, looking to break through against Hart and force San Diego to go to its bullpen early.

Speaking of bullpens, the Padres have been dominant in the late innings so far this season, with Robert Suarez and Yuki Matsui leading the charge. Cleveland’s relief group has been effective as well, but the Guardians will need a strong showing from Ortiz to avoid falling behind against a team that has yet to taste defeat.

With San Diego’s momentum and home-field advantage, they enter this game as favorites. If Hart holds his own and the bullpen continues to shut things down late, the Padres should stay undefeated. Take the Padres to continue on with their perfect record. Final Score Prediction, San Diego Padres win 5-2.