Expect Orioles to Bounce Back vs Guardians for Series-Opening MLB Bet
The Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians begin a four-game series on Sept. 21 as the teams look to rebound from recent losses. The Orioles have already secured a postseason spot and now turn to locking up the AL East, which they lead by 2.5 games despite losing their last. Cleveland, meanwhile, is looking to remain in the playoff hunt, with a loss to Baltimore expected to eliminate the Guardians from postseason contention.
Rodriguez Stays Hot
Starter Grayson Rodriguez will look to keep up his solid recent play and help the Orioles get back on track.

After finishing August with a 2-1 record and 2.64 ERA, Rodriguez has remained strong in September, giving up four earned runs and one home run over 18⅓ innings and three games.
However, Rodriguez has performed better at home, with all of those recents runs coming on the road, as he threw a scoreless eight innings against Tampa Bay at home in his last outing.
Grayson Rodriguez, 6th and 7th Ks.
8 scoreless innings.
Well done. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/d9FylX8c29
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 17, 2023
Despite being better at home, Rodriguez has still been solid to start the month with a 1.96 ERA, though bettors may want to see how he starts on the road before looking at live MLB betting lines.
Guardians Get Swept
Cleveland recorded its third straight loss as it got swept by one of the worst teams in the league in Kansas City.
Though the Guardians’ offense failed to produce for much of the series, averaging four runs a game and going 7-for-36 with runners in scoring position to leave 23 on base, their pitchers struggled even more.
Cleveland gave up 6.3 runs per game to Kansas City, allowing the Royals to average a .293 batting average in the series, despite them ranking 20th in the league at .244.
With the Orioles having the sixth-ranked batting average in the MLB at .258, bettors may want to wager on the Guardians continuing to struggle in the MLB game tonight.
Starting Pitchers
Grayson Rodriguez (6-4, 4.53 ERA) vs. Hunter Gaddis (2-1, 4.85)
Rodriguez will look to continue his strong month. He is also coming off one of his best performances of the season, striking out seven and allowing five hits in a scoreless eight innings.
The Guardians team will counter with Hunter Gaddis, who will make his 11th appearance and seventh start. He is pitching for the first time since Aug. 29, when he allowed one run and four hits over three innings.
Orioles vs Guardians Best Bet
Although the Guardians need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, making an MLB prediction for the home team to win doesn’t seem like the wisest of choices in the series opener.
Baltimore’s offense has been one of the best in the league. Aside from their one-run showing in their last game, the Orioles averaged 7.5 runs per game in the four prior to that, and their offense should be able to bounce back against Gaddis, who is coming off a long layoff.
Rodriguez has also been hot recently and should cause issues for a Cleveland offense that has been inconsistent lately, helping the Orioles get back into the win column.
Cleveland has won two out of the three against Baltimore this season, but the Orioles should send the Guardians packing with a series-opening victory.
MLB Pick: Baltimore Orioles (-165)
Orioles vs Guardians Game Information
- Game: Orioles (95-57) vs Guardians (72-81)
- Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
- Date/Time: Sept. 21, 7:15 p.m. ET
- Orioles vs Guardians Live Stream: MLB.tv