Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, Odds & Player Props (Saturday, August 3)

• We’ve made our Orioles vs Guardians prediction for Saturday’s MLB matchup
• The Saturday MLB odds favor the Orioles at -118, with the Guardians as +100 underdogs
• Read below for Orioles vs Guardians prediction, odds, and starting pitchers for August 3rd

---

The Baltimore Orioles (65-46) and Cleveland Guardians (67-42) play the final game of a three-game series Saturday night matchup at Progressive Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET on FOX.

The Guardians enter as slight +100 underdogs, while the Orioles are -118 favorites on the moneyline. The total runs line is set at 8.5, with the over at -115 and the under at -105.

Can Cleveland complete the sweep at home tonight? Let’s dive into our Orioles vs Guardians prediction for Saturday.

Orioles vs Guardians Prediction Saturday

The Guardians have absolutely dominated the first two games of this series, trouncing the Orioles 10-3 and 8-4. Cleveland’s offense has been a well-oiled machine, with contributions coming from every part of the lineup.

The red-hot Jose Ramirez, who has gone yard in three consecutive games, is leading the charge with 28 dingers and 91 RBI this season. This impressive stretch has shot the 31-year-old vet into the top-five of the AL MVP Odds.

JOSE RAMIREZ FOR MVP 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3bsoH4gDMc

— McNeil (@Reflog_18) August 2, 2024

On the flip side, the Orioles have hit a rough patch, dropping eight of their last 13 contests. Their pitching staff, in particular, has been getting hammered, giving up at least eight runs in each of their last four losses.

That being said, the Orioles still have some serious thump in their lineup, with sluggers like Anthony Santander (32 HR, 75 RBI) and Gunnar Henderson (28 HR, 66 RBI) ready to do some damage.

In terms of the starting pitching matchup, the Orioles have the upper hand with veteran Zach Eflin (6-7, 4.11 ERA) taking the hill against rookie Joey Cantillo (0-0, 8.10 ERA). Eflin, a new addition from the Rays, looked sharp in his Orioles debut, giving up three runs over six frames against the Blue Jays.

On the other hand, Cantillo had a rough go in his first MLB start, getting tagged for three runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the Phillies.

Even with the pitching edge, I like the Guardians in this one. They’ve got the momentum, the home-field advantage, and a lineup that just won’t quit. Look for Ramirez and Josh Naylor to keep raking, leading Cleveland to a narrow victory.

Saturday MLB Pick:

• Guardians ML (+100)

Orioles vs Guardians Odds

Baltimore Favored in Series Finale

The oddsmakers have the Orioles as -118 favorites, which implies a 54.3% chance of them coming out on top. The Guardians, at +100 underdogs, have a 50% implied probability of pulling off the upset.

These MLB odds take into account the Orioles’ better record and starting pitcher, but also factor in the Guardians’ recent dominance in the series and their impressive 35-15 record at home.

If you’re thinking about playing the total, the line of 8.5 runs suggests we could be in for a relatively high-scoring affair. The Orioles lead the MLB in homers (172) and rank third in total runs scored, while the Guardians have put up 23 runs over their last three games.

However, both teams have solid bullpens, which could keep the scoring in check. The odds slightly favor the over at -115, but don’t sleep on the under (-105) if you think we might see a pitchers’ duel.

 

Odds as of August 3, at ESPN Sportsbook. Sign up with the ESPN Bet promo code to wager on Saturday’s Orioles vs Guardians clash.

Baltimore vs Cleveland Props

I’ve got my eyes on a few MLB player props for Saturday’s Orioles vs Guardians game:

Jose Ramirez Over 0.5 Home Runs (+450):

Ramirez has been on an absolute tear, going deep in three straight games. He leads the Guardians with 28 bombs, and with Eflin’s tendency to give up the long ball (15 this season), I like Ramirez’s chances of adding to that total.

Anthony Santander Over 0.5 Home Runs (+360)

Santander has been a consistent power threat for the Orioles, leading the team with 32 taters. Against the inexperienced Cantillo, Santander has a good shot at taking one deep.

Anthony Santander is on FIRE pic.twitter.com/ZhCYD7a4Dg

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) July 31, 2024

Zach Eflin Over 3.5 Strikeouts (-140)

Eflin has been racking up the K’s, recording four or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight starts as a road favorite against AL opponents. With the Guardians striking out at a league-average rate, I expect Eflin to hit the over on this prop.

Orioles vs Guardians Injury Report

The Orioles will be missing third baseman Jordan Westburg, who hit the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a broken right hand. Rookie Coby Mayo, called up to fill in for Westburg, went 0-for-2 with two walks in his MLB debut on Friday.

The Guardians have a few arms on the shelf, including starters Shane Bieber (elbow) and Tanner Bibee (undisclosed), as well as reliever James Karinchak (shoulder).

But none of these absences should have a major impact on Saturday’s game. Bieber and Bibee weren’t scheduled to start, and the Guardians’ bullpen has been holding it down even without Karinchak.