On the evening of September 20, 2024, at 8:15 PM, the Cleveland Guardians are set to battle the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium under scattered clouds. Ben Lively will take the mound for the Guardians, carrying an ERA of 3.866, facing Cardinals’ pitcher Kyle Gibson, who has an ERA of 4.115. \n\nThe Guardians, who rank second in the AL Central, showcase a record of 89-65, marking a .580 winning percentage. They lead their division matchups with 30 wins against 22 losses. Recently, the team has been in good form, claiming seven out of their last 10 games and enjoying a two-game winning streak. On the road, their performance is solid with 41 wins and 37 losses. Overall, they’ve scored 681 runs while conceding 600.\n\nConversely, the Cardinals sit ninth in the NL Central with a close-to-even 77-76 record, equating to a .500 winning percentage. Their even 26-26 division record positions them third. Their recent momentum includes five wins in their last 10 outings, though they’ve lost their most recent match. Playing at home, the Cardinals hold a 42-36 record, but they struggle slightly when away with 35 wins to 40 losses. Across all games, they’ve tallied 626 runs but have allowed 683 runs.\n\nTurning to the odds, the Guardians are slight favorites with a point spread of -1.5. The over/under for the game is set at 8.0, indicating expectations for a moderate scoring game. Betting lines show the Guardians as the away favorites with a money line of -104, while the Cardinals’ home advantage puts them just behind at -114. These odds suggest a closely contested game, hinting at the Guardians’ superior recent form but acknowledging the Cardinals’ resilience at home.