San Diego Padres vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction - 3/9/23

Kingpin
Mar 9, 2023, 2:10:26 PM

The San Diego Padres are set to face off against the Cleveland Guardians in a Spring Training matchup on March 9, 2023. The Padres are looking to bounce back from a couple of tough losses, while the Guardians are trying to build some momentum after a slow start to the preseason. In this article, we'll take a closer look at both teams, examine the betting trends, and give our prediction and pick for the game.

San Diego Padres

The Padres have struggled in their last two games, losing to the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds by a combined three runs. However, they have shown plenty of promise this preseason, with a record of 6-7 and a batting average of .266. Alfonso Rivas has been a standout player, with two home runs and six RBI, while Nathan Martorella has a perfect batting average of 1.000. On the pitching side, Nick Martinez leads the team in strikeouts with 11, while Konnor Pilkington has a 2.25 ERA and six strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Padres, they will be without star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who is currently serving a suspension.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians are off to a slow start this preseason, with a record of 4-6 and a batting average of .251. They have been inconsistent on offense, but Roman Quinn has been a bright spot with three home runs and six RBI. On the pitching side, Nick Martinez has been dominant, leading the team in strikeouts with 11 and posting a 0.96 ERA. Konnor Pilkington has also been solid, with a 2.25 ERA and six strikeouts. The Guardians will be without outfielder George Valera and starting pitcher Ethan Hankins due to injury.

Prediction:

Despite the absence of Fernando Tatis Jr., we think the San Diego Padres will pull off the upset and defeat the Cleveland Guardians. The Padres have a deep and talented roster, and we expect them to bounce back from their recent losses. We predict a final score of 5-4 in favor of the Padres.