Los Angeles Dodgers at Cleveland Guardians odds, picks and predictions

The Los Angeles Dodgers (76-47) and Cleveland Guardians (59-66) swing into a 3-game series Tuesday. First pitch from Progressive Field is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Dodgers vs. Guardians odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2023; Cleveland won last year’s series 2-1

Los Angeles has been dominant since before the All-Star break. The Dodgers are 29-9 and are a plus-84 in run differential since July 5.

Cleveland has lost 4 of its last 5 games. The Guardians were just 1 game back in the AL Central to begin August.  They are just a minus-7 in August run differential but are 6-12 over 18 games and find themselves 6 games back on the division-leading Minnesota Twins.

Dodgers at Guardians projected starters

RHP Bobby Miller vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard

Miller (7-2, 3.70 ERA) makes his 15th start of the season. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 through 75 1/3 IP IP.

• Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 6-2 home win vs. Milwaukee Brewers last Tuesday
• 2023 road stats: 4-0, 2.19 ERA in 37 IP across 7 starts
• Has never faced Cleveland
• Has authored a 2.59 ERA over 31 1/3 IP in the second half

Syndergaard (2-6, 6.57 ERA) is making his 17th start. He’s logged a 1.49 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 5.8 K/9 through 76 2/3 IP for the Guardians and Dodgers.

• Last start: Loss,  4 1/3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 7-2 loss at Cincinnati Reds Wednesday
• 2023 home stats: 2-3, 4.50 ERA in 44 IP across 8 starts
• Last 5 starts vs. Dodgers: 1-2, 3.46 ERA in 26 IP (2016-22)

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Dodgers at Guardians odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:23 a.m. ET.

Dodgers at Guardians picks and predictions

Prediction

Dodgers 6, Guardians 4

There is just a slight lean toward the Dodgers (-225) in a well-priced series-opening match-up. The juice nixes any value here, though.

STEER CLEAR.

The surging Dodgers are 5-1 across their last 6 series openers and 7 of the club’s last 8 wins have been by multiple-run cushions.

Consider a partial-unit play on LOS ANGELES -1.5 (-135).

The total has gone Over in 10 of L.A.’s last 12 road games.

The Guardians clocked a .744 OPS across their last 20 games of the 1st half. They averaged 5.31 runs per game on the strength of an .802 OPS over the first 13 games after the break. They have since registered an anemic .555 OPS.

Look for at least a bit more offense from this Cleveland group in the near term. Miller has benefited from a .286 batting average on balls in play and an 8.2% home run/fly ball rate.

On a night with a double-digit breeze forecasted as blowing out in Cleveland, there is value in the OVER 9 (-110).

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