Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB regular season match.
The Cleveland Guardians needed a big comeback in extra innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins in the third game (5:3). Now, the hosts are just one step away — a win will secure their place in the playoffs.
Cleveland Guardians
This won't be easy, as the Guardians’ issues against right-handed pitchers persist. Even in their victory last night, the opponent's starter allowed only two runs over seven innings, with the Guardians’s hitters only finding success against the bullpen. Over the season, the team ranks 24th in the league for batting average against right-handers — at just 23.5%.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins have complicated their standings position: they now only lead the Detroit Tigers by tiebreakers in the wild-card race. However, Simeon Woods Richardson is slated to pitch in the final game, and he has excelled against the Cleveland Guardians this season. He faced the Guardians' batters twice and performed outstandingly on both occasions. In total, over 12 and 1/3 innings, Woods Richardson allowed only 3 runs.
Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
In this series, the Cleveland Guardians have struggled in the early stages. Over the first five innings across three games, they have scored only three runs, and now they face a pitcher who knows how to neutralise the Guardians' bats. We will focus on the individual total for the hosts.
