The Cleveland Guardians (80-60) and LA Dodgers (84-56) open a 3-game interleague series Friday. First pitch from Dodger Stadium is set for 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Guardians vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Dodgers won 2-1 in 2023
The Guardians won the 1st 2 games in Kansas City, but the Royals salvaged the series finale with a 4-1 win on Wednesday. The Guardians are still 5-2 across the past 7 outings, while cashing the Under at a 4-0-1 clip in the previous 5 contests.
Cleveland is just 5-8 in the past 13 road games, however, while going 2-4 in the previous 6 interleague outings. The Under is 7-3 in the past 10 tries against NL teams, too.
For the Dodgers, it split a pair with the crosstown rival Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, winning 6-2 on Tuesday before getting hammered 10-1 on Wednesday. The Over has been on fire for L.A. lately, going 7-1 in the past 8 games, and 10-3 across the past 13 contests.
Los Angeles has managed a 10-3 mark in the past 13 tries against AL foes, while going 11-2 in the past 13 interleague games at Chavez Ravine.
Guardians at Dodgers projected starters
LHP Matthew Boyd vs. RHP
Boyd (1-1, 2.38 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 0.84 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 22 2/3 IP.
Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K in 3-0 home setback vs. Pittsburgh Pirates last Saturday
2024 road splits: No-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H (2 HR), 4 BB, 2 K in 9-5 win in 12 innings vs. New York Yankees Aug. 20
Career vs. Dodgers: 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K in 2017 relief appearance as a member of the Detroit Tigers
Knack (2-2, 3.00 ERA) makes his 9th start and 11th appearance. He has a 1.00 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 48 IP.
Last start: Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 2 H (solo HR), 2 BB, 6 K in 5-3 home victory vs. San Francisco Giants July 23
2024 home splits: 1-2, 3.00 ERA (24 IP, 8 ER), 0.92 WHIP, .174 OBA, 5 HR, 7 BB, 23 K in 5 starts
Has never faced Guardians
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Guardians at Dodgers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:04 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Guardians +132 (bet $100 to win $132) | Dodgers -156 (bet $156 to win $100)
Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians +1.5 (-162) | Dodgers -1.5 (+134)
Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Guardians at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 4, Dodgers 3
Moneyline
The GUARDIANS (+132) are worth a roll of the dice, but go lightly. The reasoning for backing Cleveland is pitching, as Boyd has been a breath of fresh air for a team which desperately needed some quality starting pitching with all of the injuries in the rotation.
The Dodgers (-156) turn back to Knack, who last made an appearance in relief in Milwaukee on Aug. 13. He has had trouble keeping the ball in the park, conceding 6 HR in the past 22 1/3 IP across 3 starts and 2 relief appearances.
Run line/Against the spread
If you’re a little more on the conservative side, and would rather not play Cleveland straight up, GUARDIANS +1.5 (-162) is worth a look on the run line catching the run and a half.
It’s a tall order facing a Dodgers -1.5 (+134) team which has been doing well, but Cleveland catches a break going against one of the team’s lesser pitchers in the opener.
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Over/Under
UNDER 9 (-108) is worth playing lightly in this interleague series opener.
While the Over is on an impressive 7-1 run in the past 8 games for Los Angeles, the Over-Under has split in the previous 6 interleague battles.
For Cleveland, the Under has gone low at a 4-0-1 clip in the past 5 games, and that’s what is driving this Under train.
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