Cleveland Guardians vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions April 26th 2025

Guardians Look to Stay Hot in Doubleheader Against Red Sox

After a strong showing against one American League East powerhouse, the Cleveland Guardians are ready to take on another. Following Friday’s rainout, the Guardians and the visiting Boston Red Sox will square off in a split doubleheader on Saturday, with Cleveland aiming to extend its recent surge.

Guardians Riding Momentum into Twin Bill

Cleveland has been red-hot, winning five straight games before a 5-1 setback against the Yankees on Wednesday. The Guardians have bounced back from a slow start, going 11-4 after losing six of their first nine games.

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“Obviously, we want to win every single day,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said, emphasizing the team’s growing confidence and consistency.

Cleveland has also had Boston’s number lately, winning seven of the last nine meetings between the two clubs. The Guardians will look to keep that dominance rolling in front of their home fans on Saturday.

Doubleheader Game 1: Lively vs. Houck

In the opener, Cleveland will turn to Ben Lively (1-2, 3.86 ERA), who’s coming off a sharp outing against Pittsburgh. He allowed just four hits and one walk across 5 1/3 innings in a 3-0 Guardians victory.

“That was Ben at his best,” Vogt said after the win.

Lively has historically fared well against Boston, posting a 2.25 ERA across four career starts. He’ll face a Red Sox lineup where Rafael Devers is currently struggling, going hitless in his last 15 at-bats and 0-for-5 with two strikeouts against Lively specifically.

Boston counters with right-hander Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.66 ERA), who has endured a rocky start to the season but rebounded in his latest outing, giving up just a two-run homer over six innings against the White Sox.

“Slowly just working your way through it and showing up each and every day with a good attitude, chipping away at it, is kind of the recipe for success,” Houck said.

Houck has a strong career track record against Cleveland, sporting a 2.37 ERA in nine appearances (four starts).

If you’re eyeing MLB picks for the first game, the pitching matchup leans toward a tightly contested battle. To get expert insights and betting angles, don’t miss the latest MLB picks.

Doubleheader Game 2: Nikhazy Debuts Against Buehler

The nightcap will be even more intriguing as touted Guardians prospect Doug Nikhazy makes his major league debut. The left-hander has impressed at Triple-A Columbus with a 3.44 ERA and 22 strikeouts over four starts this season. Saturday’s outing will be his first taste of big-league action.

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Meanwhile, Boston will hand the ball to Walker Buehler (3-1, 4.23 ERA), who has found his stride after a rough start to the season. Buehler has gone 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA over his last three starts, including a strong seven-inning outing against the White Sox earlier this week.

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“He’s in a good spot. A great start,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Alex Bregman, who continues to anchor Boston’s offense with a .320 batting average.

Buehler will face Cleveland for the first time in his career, while the Guardians will hope Nikhazy can make a memorable debut on a big stage.

Key Storylines to Watch

The Guardians’ ability to maintain their strong form, the debut of Doug Nikhazy, and whether Boston’s struggling offense can find a spark all add layers of drama to Saturday’s twin bill. With both teams looking to seize momentum early in the series, the doubleheader could play a big role in shaping their weekend fortunes.