Pirates vs Guardians Picks and Prediction – 9/1/2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates (62-72) face off against the Cleveland Guardians (77-58) at Progressive Field on Sunday, September 1st. Mitch Keller, with an 11-8 record and a 3.84 ERA, will take the mound for the Pirates, while the Guardians counter with Alex Cobb, who has a 1-1 record and a 4.35 ERA. Both teams are coming off a high-scoring affair, with Cleveland narrowly edging out a 10-8 victory in the previous game. Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a tough stretch, having lost four of the last five games, including the 10-8 defeat to Cleveland on Friday. Offensively, the Pirates have struggled to find consistency, ranking 23rd in batting average at .237 and 22nd in runs scored with 568. Power has been a significant issue for Pittsburgh, as the 134 home runs rank just 25th in the league. Bryan Reynolds has been one of the few bright spots, leading the team with a .284 batting average and 21 home runs. However, the rest of the lineup has underperformed, which has been a key factor in the recent struggles.

On the pitching side, Mitch Keller has been one of the more reliable arms for the Pirates, but the team as a whole has been inconsistent. The Pirates rank 19th in ERA at 4.16 and have allowed opponents to hit .252 against them, placing them 25th in the league. Keller’s 1.24 WHIP indicates he’s been decent at limiting baserunners.

The Cleveland Guardians, meanwhile, have been more consistent, currently leading the AL Central. They’ve won three of the last five games, including the recent victory over Pittsburgh. Offensively, Cleveland isn’t the most powerful team but has been productive, ranking 19th in batting average at .239 and 12th in runs scored with 618. José Ramírez continues to be the offensive engine for the Guardians, leading the team with 34 home runs and 104 RBIs while maintaining a .531 slugging percentage. 

On the pitching front, the Guardians have been strong all season, ranking 10th in ERA at 3.87 and 7th in both WHIP (1.23) and batting average against (.235). Alex Cobb will be tasked with keeping the Pirates’ offense in check, and while his 4.35 ERA isn’t elite, he has been effective when it counts. 

Considering the Pirates' recent struggles and the Guardians' superior performance on both sides of the ball, Cleveland has the clear advantage. With José Ramírez anchoring the offense and the pitching staff performing at a high level, the Guardians should be able to control the game from start to finish. Final Score Prediction: Cleveland Guardians win 6-3.