Guardians and Pirates square off in series rubber match

Updated Sep. 1, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates (63-72, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Cleveland Guardians (77-59, first in the AL Central)

Cleveland; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (11-8, 3.84 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 138 strikeouts); Guardians: Alex Cobb (0-0)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Guardians -147, Pirates +124; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians and Pittsburgh Pirates meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series.

Cleveland has a 42-25 record at home and a 77-59 record overall. The Guardians rank eighth in the AL with 154 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.

Pittsburgh is 63-72 overall and 31-36 in road games. The Pirates have a 33-17 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

The teams match up Sunday for the third time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Naylor has 22 doubles, 28 home runs and 98 RBI while hitting .241 for the Guardians. Jhonkensy Noel is 11-for-36 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.

Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with a .282 batting average, and has 24 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 48 walks and 74 RBI. Oneil Cruz is 17-for-40 with six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Guardians: 4-6, .238 batting average, 5.16 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Pirates: 4-6, .274 batting average, 6.43 ERA, outscored by 17 runs

INJURIES: Guardians: Alex Cobb: 15-Day IL (hand), Sam Hentges: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Carlos Carrasco: 15-Day IL (hip), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Stephan: 60-Day IL (elbow), James Karinchak: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Pirates: Ben Heller: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Joey Bart: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Hunter Stratton: 60-Day IL (patella), Ke'Bryan Hayes: 10-Day IL (herniated disc), Marco Gonzales: 60-Day IL (forearm), Colin Holderman: 15-Day IL (undisclosed), Daulton Jefferies: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ryan Borucki: 60-Day IL (tricep), Dauri Moreta: 60-Day IL (elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.