Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals June 27th 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals travel to Progressive Field to play against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, June 27, 2025. The game starts at 7:10 PM under the lights of this outdoor stadium. Fans can watch the action on APLTV as the Cardinals, with a record of 44-38, look to improve their road performance against the Guardians.
Cleveland, with a 40-39 record, aims to capitalize on their home advantage. The Guardians will rely on their starting pitcher, Luis L. Ortiz, who has a 4.30 ERA. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will send Sonny Gray to the mound, sporting a 3.72 ERA. Expect a competitive game despite the forecast of light rain and a hot day.
Cardinals vs Guardians Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cleveland Guardians
- Venue: Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH
- Date: Friday, June 27, 2025
- Betting Odds: Cardinals MoneyLine -130, Guardians MoneyLine +110
The Cardinals Can Win If…
The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a recent 0-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Andre Pallante pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs. Alec Burleson managed one hit, and the team will aim to improve their hitting in the upcoming game.
Despite recent losses, the Cardinals have strong hitting stats this season. They rank 6th in batting average and on-base percentage, showing their ability to get on base. Their lineup includes Brendan Donovan, who has a .301 batting average, and Alec Burleson with a .297 average, both key players for the team.
Pitching will be crucial for the Cardinals, with Sonny Gray starting on the mound. Gray has a solid ERA of 3.72 and a WHIP of 1.19. Facing Cleveland’s Luis L. Ortiz, who has a higher ERA of 4.30, gives the Cardinals a good chance to capitalize on pitching matchups.
The Guardians Can Win If…
The Cleveland Guardians are ready to take on the St. Louis Cardinals after a recent setback against the Toronto Blue Jays. In their last game, they struggled offensively, managing only two hits. Tanner Bibee was a bright spot on the mound, pitching six innings with seven strikeouts and only two earned runs.
Despite recent losses, the Guardians have key stats that show their potential. They have a respectable team batting average of .229 and rank 9th in stolen bases with 64. Their pitching staff is strong in preventing home runs, ranking 8th in the league with only 80 home runs given up.
José Ramírez continues to be a standout player for Cleveland. He boasts a .317 batting average, ranking 14th in the league for home runs with 13. With Luis L. Ortiz on the mound, the Guardians will look to leverage their strengths and bounce back against the Cardinals.
The Lean
The Cardinals are favored on the moneyline at -130. The Guardians are at +110. My model projects the Cardinals to win with a score of 5-4. The Cardinals have a better batting average and on-base percentage, which gives them an edge.
The over/under line is set at 8.5 runs. My model predicts a total of 9 runs. Both teams have mid-range ERAs, suggesting that the over is a reasonable pick. The Cardinals’ strong hitting stats also support this choice.
Slumping Guardians Face Uphill Battle Against Cardinals, Sonny Gray
A six-week downward spiral hit a new low for the Cleveland Guardians in their last outing. Now, things don’t get any easier. The slumping Cleveland Guardians will look to find their footing on Friday night as they open a three-game interleague series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
A Crisis of Fundamentals
The Guardians are in the midst of a 15-22 slump that has seen them fall from eight games over .500. Their struggles have been on all fronts. They have a team batting average of .229, which would be a franchise-worst for a full season, and their defense ranks among the league’s worst. Their woes were on full display in their last game, a 6-0 loss that featured four team errors, including three in one inning by first baseman Kyle Manzardo. To make matters worse, star third baseman Jose Ramirez left the game after being hit by a pitch.
“The recipe is here; we just have to find the right way for it to click,” a frustrated manager Stephen Vogt said. “We just haven’t been clicking all at the same time.”
The Gray Wall
The task of breaking out of their slump is made more difficult by Friday’s starting pitcher for the Cardinals. St. Louis will send their veteran ace, Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA), to the mound. Gray has a strong career record against Cleveland and will look to shut down their already struggling lineup.

A Lopsided Duel on the Mound
The pitching matchup on paper appears to be a massive mismatch. While the Cardinals have their ace on the hill, the Guardians will counter with right-hander Luis Ortiz (4-8, 4.30). Ortiz has been shelled in his career against St. Louis, posting a sky-high 9.64 ERA in five appearances. This history will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.
Cards Look to Rebound
The Cardinals are coming off a successful 6-3 homestand, though they were shut out in the finale on Thursday. They will look to get back in the win column behind Gray and a lineup that could see the return of outfielder Lars Nootbaar from a minor injury. Players like Alec Burleson have stepped up recently, providing solid defense and a career-high .297 batting average. The struggles of a team like the Guardians are a key topic in our expert betting guide.
For two MLB teams looking to start a new series on a positive note, the pitching matchup seems to give one a clear edge. To see if our experts think the Guardians can pull off the upset, check out our daily MLB picks.