Cleveland Guardians vs Boston Red Sox Prediction, 4/18/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cleveland Guardians vs Boston Red Sox

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024

Location: Fenway Park in Boston, MA

TV: Bally Sports Great Lakes

Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland (-102) Boston (-116)

The Cleveland Guardians (12-5) are en route to Fenway Park on Thursday where they will attempt to beat the Boston Red Sox (9-9). The line on this matchup has the Guardians at -102 and the Red Sox are opening at -116. The total is 9. The starting pitchers are Carlos Carrasco and Cooper Criswell.

The Guardians have earned 31 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 18 baseballs out of the park. Cleveland has a slugging rate of .414 and have been rung up 135 times, while taking a walk on 50 occasions. As a team, the Cleveland Guardians are scoring 5.7 runs per outing, which ranks them 5th in baseball. They have earned 86 runs batted in and 155 hits so far this year, while their batting average is .259. They have earned a total of 97 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .328.

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The Guardians hold a team ERA of 3.14 for the year (5th in MLB), and they have struck out 155 hitters. Guardians pitchers have surrendered 12 home runs and 59 runs (2nd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 69 opposing hitters and their FIP is 3.74 as a unit for the season. Cleveland has relinquished 128 base hits (7.4 per 9 innings) as well as 54 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.25 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.27.

Guardians bullpen pitchers have entered the game with players on base 17 times as well as having 25 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have racked up 12 holds on the campaign (7th in MLB). The Guardians bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 62.5% and has entered the game in 20 save situations. They have recorded 5 saves for the year and have blown 3 of their 8 chances to get a save. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 23 runners on the year and 17.4% of those runners crossed the plate. The Guardians have sent 72 relievers to the hill on the campaign.

The Guardians have turned 70.2% of balls in play into outs out of their 1,395 innings, which has them sitting at 9th in the majors. The Cleveland Guardians have amassed 465 putouts for the season, in addition to 157 assists and 8 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .987 which puts them in 10th in MLB, and have a total of 15 double plays.

Carrasco has pitched in 149 innings and is sitting with 136 K's so far in his career. Carrasco (10-8 career record) sits with a FIP of 3.95 while he has gone up against 609 batters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 4.03 (67 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.122. He has allowed 136 hits (8.2 hits per nine innings) and has 32 walks.

Boston has accounted for 23 home runs for the year as well as 76 RBIs. They have hit 24 two-baggers, while walking 63 times and recording 79 runs. The Boston Red Sox have tallied a team OBP of .305 as well as a batting average of .229 this season. The Red Sox hold a team slugging percentage of .387 and they are scoring 4.39 runs per game (16th in MLB). They have been called out on strikes on 181 occasions (5th in MLB) and have notched a total of 140 base hits.

The Red Sox are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.187 and have a FIP of 3.57 as a squad on the year. They are currently ranked 17th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 145. The Boston pitching staff have relinquished 76 runs on the campaign and come in with a team ERA of 2.89 (53 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.50 (174 strikeouts vs 51 free passes). They have conceded 17 long balls and they allow 4.14 runs per 9 innings (8th in baseball).

Boston relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 30.0% of 20 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 34 times in high leverage situations and on 18 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 25 save situations, the Red Sox have accrued 12 holds and also 6 blown saves. They sit at 19th in MLB with a save percentage of 53.8%, and they have dispatched 59 relievers to the hill for the season. Boston has had relievers step onto the hill in 13 save opportunities and they have walked away with 7 saves.

The Boston Red Sox have turned 9 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .973 (30th in professional baseball). The Red Sox have racked up 153 assists, 18 errors and have notched a total of 496 putouts so far this year. In 1,488 innings on the field, the Red Sox have earned a efficiency on defense of 68.8% (21st in the majors).

During his pro baseball career, Criswell has allowed 223 hits while he has totaled 174 strikeouts in 213 innings. Criswell (11-14 career win-loss record) has a 4.73 ERA while giving up 9.4 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 112 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.266 and a FIP of 4.8. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.70 and he has gone up against 894 batters in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cleveland (-102)

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