The Houston Astros are slated to clash with the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 28, 2024, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:10 PM under a light rain forecast. Leading the pitching for Houston will be Justin Verlander, who carries a 5.197 ERA into the game. Countering him will be the Guardians’ Ben Lively, who holds an ERA of 3.866.

As of now, the Astros are fourth in the 2024 AL West Division with a record of 87-73 and a 0.54 winning percentage. They’ve won 29 of their 52 divisional games and are showing solid form with six victories in their last ten matchups, including a current winning streak of one game. The Astros have recorded 46 home wins versus 35 losses, complemented by a 41-38 record on away games. With a total of 736 runs scored against 646 allowed, they’re showing robust offensive and defensive stats.

The Guardians hold the second position in the AL Central Division, boasting a record of 92-68 and a 0.58 winning percentage. With a divisional record of 30-22, they have also won six of their last ten games but are coming off a loss. Home games have been a strength for them, with a 50-29 record, while they’ve been slightly weaker on the road with 42 wins and 39 losses. Offensively, they have scored 705 runs and have conceded 617.

From a betting perspective, the game presents intriguing odds. The point spread is set at 1.5, with an over/under of 8.0. The money line offers slight favoritism towards the Guardians at -116, compared to the Astros at -102. This setup suggests a closely contested game, potentially with lower scoring due to the pitching strengths, making it a tight matchup for bettors and fans alike.