Atlanta Braves vs Cleveland Guardians Point Spread Picks

The Braves were shut out for the first time this season losing to the Guardians, 6-0, on Saturday. But Atlanta's pitching remains the best in baseball. The Braves not only have the lowest ERA and WHIP, but their relief pitchers have compiled the lowest bullpen era at 2.06. Cleveland ranks 24th in runs and batting average. Jose Ramirez is off to a slow start batting .175. Now the Guardians have to go against Chris Sale, one of the best lefties in the majors. Sale had a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last year. He is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA and 0.88 ratio this season. Tanner Bibee will be on the mound for the Guardians. Bibee finished strong last season with a 1.30 ERA in September. He is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.32 WHIP this season. Bibee is backed by Cade Smith, one of the best closers in the American League. Take the UNDER.

The numbers show the Braves to have a top-five offense and the lowest ERA in the majors. But Atlanta has maybe been the luckiest team in baseball so far. Braves pitchers have allowed just a .226 batting average on balls in play so far this year. That is the lowest BABIP allowed in baseball, with the second-lowest at .241. That statistic should be going up starting today, with over-the-hill Martin Perez on the mound for Atlanta. Perez has pitched for seven teams since 2018, twice with the Rangers. He had a 5.20 ERA two seasons ago. The 35-year-old Perez has a 3.86 ERA in 9.1 innings this season. The Braves will be getting their first look at Parker Messick, a highly rated prospect for Cleveland. Messick is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in 11 Innings this season. Messick could be the best pitcher the Braves have faced in their past 12 games. Take the Guardians.

Cleveland is atop the AL Central after winning two in a row and five of seven. The Guardians have been getting outstanding pitching, as they have allowed 2.33 runs per game over their past nine games. They come off a 10-2 victory over Kansas City on Wednesday when the offense generated 16 hits, including four hits and a grand slam by Angel Martinez. Cleveland's bullpen owns a 1.17 WHIP this season. The Guardians have won 13 of 17 road games dating to last season. Atlanta is home following a seven-game trip in which it won four. Slade Cecconi bounced back from a rough first start to throw six shutout innings on one hit against the Cubs on Sunday. Take the Guardians.