MLB Over/Under Best Bet: Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 19

Thank goodness for live bet. Although they lost the first Marlins phill during a run, there was a tempting opportunity to regain most of it on live below 11.5 at the top of the seventh. Nothing wrong with saving one night, and players should always monitor ongoing lines when the games play out.

Speaking of things that are live, what a perfect segue in today’s over/during bet. It comes in the sandwich shop in this three-game Interleague series between Cleveland Guardians and Pittsburgh Pirates, and will see Ben Lively put on Paul Skeps.

At this point, everyone already knows about Pirates General Ace: Rookie of the Year. All-Star Game Start Pitcher. Top three in Cy Young voting. All in just his first year.

To some surprise, Skene is to maintain the dominance we saw from his beginner who showed a season ago and entered this fifth start of the campaign with a 2.96 era and microscopic 0.74 whip. In addition, he has a total of 26 to 3 k/bb relationship in 24 1/3 rounds while suppressing hitters to a video game-like .169/.204/.225 Slut.

Skeps will receive an unpleasant test this afternoon in the form of Guardians, which makes 4.1 runs per match to rank around the middle of the package. There are definitely some exciting bats in the lineup outside José Ramírez, such as Kyle Manzardo, Steven Kwan, Nolan Jones and “Big Christmas” Jhonkensy Noel, but this is Paul-Faking-Lights that we’re talking about. And in his kingdom of pitcher-friendly PNC park. Trust him to mount another quality outing in this one.

Can we, however, share the same feelings for lively? The 33-year-old right-hander comes from a very enlightening 13-10 season where he made 29 start-ups after only returning to the big leagues the year before for the first time since before the Covid season. He previously struck in Korea to revive his baseball career.

Lively showed some potential in its first Rodeo in Majors in 2017 and even beat Jacob Degrom and (Prime) Madison Bumgarner that season on the way to the end with a respectable 4.26 era. So it is perhaps not so surprising that he sticks with the tribe this time as a pretty steady start.

His start to the current season does not go so hot and sits at 0-2 to four starts with a 4.87 era and 1.33 Whip. However, there is reason to believe that lively can improve these figures until later.

Being saddled with a .309 average on balls played against him is a rather bad circumstance to handle, and that number is likely to come down considerably in the upcoming assignments. In turn, it will empty his .270 Slag average against.

It is also worth noting that Lively draws soft contact at a speed of 17.2%, which is his best such brand since returning to the states to play baseball.

The quality of the opponent’s – or perhaps lack of it – can also be helpful too lively. The Pirates undoubtedly have a certain remarkable talent within their battle orders, but overall they are ranked number two from the bottom of the National League with 3.5 runs per match. In addition, their .202/.288/.317 is awarding the line among the worst in the entire baseball.

Skene’s numbers to lead the way, and hopefully lively will be enough play to hang around.

Choose: Under 8.5 (-118, Draftkings)

2025 MLB Betting Record: 13-11-1, -0.63 device
Above/below: 11-8-1
Props: 2-2
Ml: 0-1
Yesterday’s results: Marlins-Phillies under 8 (loss), marlins phillies live below 11.5 (win)

Each bet rated as if it would win a unit unless otherwise stated.

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