Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Prediction: Can the Marlins Bats Get to Zach Plesac Tonight?

Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Prediction: Can the Marlins Bats Get to Zach Plesac Tonight?

Although the Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins may have the same record, these teams had very different expectations heading into the 2023 season. The Guardians were the youngest team to make the playoffs last year and are looking to continue their momentum. The Marlins, well, are the Marlins. They aren’t typically very competitive or willing to spend much in free agency. Well, we’re 19 games into the season, and both teams sit one game above .500. I think these two teams are closer in skill level than the public believes.

Guardians vs. Marlins Start Time and Where to Watch

• Date: Friday, April 21, 2023
• Start Time: 7:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV

Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Prediction

Since winning the World Series behind Josh Beckett’s legacy series, the Marlins really haven't done much. I still blame Derek Jeter for trading away their entire team filled with future MVPs. The one big move the Marlins made this offseason that has been paying off immensely was trading Pablo Lopez for Luis Arraez. Arraez has been the best hitter in baseball in 2023, slashing .438 with 28 hits in 18 games.

Garrett Cooper seems to have found his bat from the first half of last season, as he’s currently raking like he did when he made the All-Star Game. The Marlins have two punishers in the meat of the lineup with Bryan De La Cruz and Jorge Soler; these gentlemen mash baseballs.

After making the cover of MLB The Show, Miami has decided to throw Jazz Chisholm in centerfield. Although he hasn’t looked pretty defensively, the bat is still there. This isn’t your typical Marlins team. This lineup is stacked with professional hitters who either mash home runs or like to run on the basepaths. Jazz Chisholm and Jon Berti are “automatic doubles” once they reach first base, swiping bags left and right.

This Guardians team hasn’t found their groove from last season. With Zach Plesac on the mound, don’t expect the Guardians' luck to turn around tonight. Plesac has looked extremely hittable in 2023; even the Washington Nationals were able to put up four runs in five innings against him. Plesac has only gone more than 80 pitches once this season and has struggled with his command. Expect Luis Arraez to set the table and get the ball rolling for Miami early and often tonight.

Braxton Garrett held the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the hottest teams in baseball, to only four hits and one run in his last start. The young lefty has been waiting for his breakout season since leaving Vanderbilt as one of their top arms. With how terrible the Guardians currently look at the plate, expect Garrett’s nasty slider to keep Jose Ramirez and Co. in check.

Back the Marlins at plus money to steal the first game of the series in Cleveland. Oddsmakers are overvaluing this Guardians team from 2022 and undervaluing Braxton Garrett and the Marlins, who are off to a nice start in 2023. It’s a great sign that the odds have shifted nearly twenty cents toward the Marlins as well.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Pick

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MLB Odds

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