Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, 7/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026

Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (-196) Cleveland (+162)

The Cleveland Guardians (51-46) are hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates (50-47) at Progressive Field on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has Pittsburgh at -196 and Cleveland is at +162. The total comes in at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Braxton Ashcraft and Joey Cantillo.

The Pirates have hit 154 doubles as a team and have knocked 125 baseballs out of the park. Pittsburgh has a slugging % of .426 and have struck out 907 times, while taking a walk on 363 occasions. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are scoring 5.3 runs per game, which has them at 1st in the league. They have compiled 495 runs batted in as well as 886 hits on the season, while their team batting average is at .263. They have notched a total of 516 runs while having a team OBP of .342.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.49 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.32. Pirates pitchers have relinquished 103 home runs in addition to 472 total runs (23rd in baseball). Pittsburgh has surrendered 787 base knocks (8.2 per 9 innings) and 416 earned runs. The Pirates have compiled a team earned run average of 4.32 on the year (20th in the league), and they have struck out 883 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 355 opposing players and their FIP is 4.03 as a squad so far this season.

Pirates pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 88 times and also have had 89 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have earned 45 holds so far this year (22nd in baseball). The Pirates bullpen have recorded a save percentage of 52.8% and have entered the game in 82 save situations. They have compiled 19 saves this year and have blown 17 out of their 36 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 125 base runners on the campaign and 30.4% of those runners crossing the plate. The Pirates have dispatched 310 relievers to the mound over the course of the season.

The Pirates have converted 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of 7,800 innings on the field, which ranks them 23rd in MLB. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a total of 2,600 putouts so far this season, as well as 765 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .983 which has them ranked 21st in baseball, and have accumulated 74 double plays.

Ashcraft has taken the hill for 182 innings and has earned 199 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career. Ashcraft (13-7 career win-loss record) holds a FIP of 3.16 while going up against 753 batters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 3.21 (65 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.168. He has given up 162 hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) and has 51 walks.

Cleveland has a total of 93 home runs for the year as well as 368 runs batted in. They have recorded 147 doubles, while getting a free base 353 times and scoring 385 runs. The Cleveland Guardians are sitting with a team OBP of .310 in addition to a team batting average of .229 for the season. The Guardians have a slugging percentage of .369 and they have an average of 3.97 runs per contest (29th in MLB). They have struck out on 810 instances (12th in the league) and have earned a total of 732 base hits.

The Guardians have a team WHIP of 1.262 in addition to having a FIP of 3.97 as a squad for the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 9.10 (870 strikeouts vs 321 free passes). They have a ranking of 10th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 762. They have yielded 110 home runs and they concede 4.06 runs per 9 innings (7th in MLB). The Cleveland pitching staff have allowed 387 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 3.71 (354 earned runs yielded).

Sitting with 125 save situations, the Guardians have earned 83 holds in addition to 9 blown saves. Cleveland has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 41 save opportunities and they have walked away with 32 saves. Cleveland relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 23.9% out of 142 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 123 times in high leverage situations and also on 92 occasions with base runners. They are ranked 2nd in baseball with a save percentage of 78.0%, and they have sent 326 relievers onto the diamond on the year.

The Cleveland Guardians have turned 66 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .986 (14th in pro baseball). The Guardians have accrued 776 assists, 47 errors and have amassed 2,576 putouts for the season. In 7,728 innings on the diamond, the Guardians have a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (15th in the majors).

So far in his MLB career, Cantillo has conceded 205 base knocks while he has tallied 257 punch outs in 235 innings. He has surrendered 95 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.323 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.6. His K/BB ratio is 2.42 and he has gone up against 994 batters during his MLB career. Cantillo (15-11 win-loss record in his career) holds a 3.64 earned run average while allowing 7.9 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cleveland (+162)

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