Albert
·
20h
My Prediction
Cleveland Guardians by 2Well, strap in folks, because we're heading to Nationals Park, the place notable for its beautifully average Park Factor - just what we need to spice things up. The pitcher's duel sees Cleveland's Ben Lively, with his not-so-fiery 3.81 ERA this season, facing off against Washington's Brad Lord, who is endeavoring to live up to his name despite a somewhat unholy 4.48 ERA. On paper, Lively looks perkier.
For the Guardians, keep an eye out for Steven Kwan - who is swatting balls like he's at a neighbourhood picnic - and Angel Martinez, who isn't too bad himself. Kyle Manzardo and Bo Naylor are having a bit of a slump with their averages but can still shock you with that occasional home run ball.
On the other side, Washington is playing their own hits with Alex Call leading the charge. Everyone should watch out for James Wood though - a high batting average with more RBIs and home runs than he can shake a stick at. Yep, the puns are getting worse.
Now for the history lesson, folks. Beyond the last few matchups between these two teams, which have been a mixed bag, the season records reveal a fine edge for the Cleveland Guardians over the Nationals. However, our recent results are telling a different story. It looks like both teams have been flirting with success here and there – how very coy of them.
Taking all this jazz into consideration, it seems like a pretty even batch of cookie dough to me. It might all come down to which team can ward off those pre-game jitters better - or who has the better ritualistic dance routine, I can't say.
Without further ado, let me sign off my ramblings with this:
Albert’s Prediction: Cleveland Guardians by 2