The Cleveland Guardians face the St. Louis Cardinals in a pivotal three-game series, entering the matchup with mixed momentum. The Guardians struggled recently, suffering a 6-0 defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays, while the Cardinals are also looking to rebound from a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs. On the mound, the Cardinals will rely on Sonny Gray, who boasts a 3.72 ERA and a 7-2 record, while the Guardians will call on Luis Ortiz, who has a 4.30 ERA and a 4-8 record. Betting lines favor the Cardinals at -131, with the Guardians at +107. The total runs for the game are set at 8.5, making this matchup a potential battleground for fantasy players and bettors alike.

With the game set to commence at Progressive Field in Cleveland at 7:10 p.m. ET, expert predictions suggest several enticing player props. For instance, Brendan Donovan is projected to fall under 1.5 hits as his recent form shows fewer than two hits in six of the last seven games. In contrast, Steven Kwan, hitting .302, is expected to record at least one single, having achieved multiple hits in recent appearances. Additionally, Ortiz is predicted to exceed 4.5 strikeouts, following a trend of strong performances with frequent strikeouts in his recent outings.