Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction: Can Jose Ramirez and the Guardians Avoid a Home Sweep?

Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction: Can Jose Ramirez and the Guardians Avoid a Home Sweep?

The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians entered this current three-game series as two of the hottest teams in baseball. However, through the first two games, one team has shown the ability to remain hot while cooling off the other in the process.

Boston has won the first two games by scores of 6-3 and 4-2, which means it is the first team to win a series against Cleveland in the last seven tries. Regardless, the Red Sox and Guardians are still two of the best three teams in the American League in June, with records of 18-4 and 15-7, respectively.

Boston is now 11-2 in its last 13 road games and is searching for a seventh straight win in this series finale. The Red Sox are also a season-high ten games over .500 and are 31-12 since May 10. But will they have enough to finish a road sweep of the Guardians? Read on for our best play and odds for Sunday's series finale between the Red Sox and Guardians.

Guardians vs. Red Sox Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: June 26, 2022
• Game Time: 1:40 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV

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Guardians vs. Red Sox Line Movement

Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction

Cleveland has lost three consecutive games, in large part because it has scored just five runs in that span. However, the Guardians still pounded 12 hits against Boston in the series-opening loss but were an inefficient 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They followed that up by leaving seven men on base yesterday and were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

We expect Cleveland's offense to bounce back against veteran Rich Hill (3-4, 4.50), who is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in three June starts, striking out 21 batters in 21 innings. While much of Hill's success has been in his ability to strike hitters out, Cleveland leads the league with the lowest strikeout percentage (18.5%) and is just one of three teams with a strikeout percentage lower than 20%. 

We also look for a bounceback game from Guardians slugger Jose Ramirez, who leads the American League with 63 RBI but just had a 13-game hitting streak snapped. Ramirez is 4-for-8 with a home run against Hill and a wOBA of .600. Ramirez remains on pace to become the first player with 100 extra-base hits in a season since 2001.

In addition, Amed Rosario is a solid 3-for-8 against Hill, and he has hit safely in 19 of 21 games in June while batting .352. Between Rosario and Ramirez at the top of the Guardians lineup, they should be the table setters that will pave the way for getting the team out of an offensive funk.

Cleveland counters with Aaron Civale (2-3, 7.25), who should have an advantage the first couple of times through the lineup as this is his first time facing Boston. Civale was solid in his first start off the IL, allowing two runs in five innings in a road start against a powerful Minnesota lineup.

Despite Boston's torrid play, oddsmakers have still shown their confidence in Cleveland, making this game a virtual pick 'em with each team having -110 moneyline odds. It is difficult to beat a team three consecutive times in their home stadium, especially a team that has played as well as the Guardians of late. Thus, that makes Cleveland's moneyline odds seem like a good value in this matchup.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox Pick

• Guardians ML (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)

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