San Francisco Giants vs Cleveland Guardians June 18th 2025
The Cleveland Guardians will play against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The game will start at 9:45 PM and be shown on NBCS. The weather forecast predicts a mild day with a light breeze and a few clouds.
Cleveland enters the game with a 35-35 record and sits 10 games back in the AL Central. Their road record is 16-20 this season. San Francisco holds a 41-31 record and is 2 games back in the NL West. They have a strong home record of 22-11. Logan Allen will pitch for Cleveland, while Justin Verlander will start for San Francisco.
Guardians vs Giants Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Cleveland Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants
- Venue: Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA
- Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
- Betting Odds: Guardians MoneyLine +119, Giants MoneyLine -143
The Guardians Can Win If…
The Cleveland Guardians are looking to bounce back after a tough 0-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Despite the loss, pitcher Luis L. Ortiz showed resilience, striking out five batters over six innings. Key hitters like Lane Thomas, Angel Martínez, and Kyle Manzardo each managed a hit, showing potential for improvement in the upcoming game.
The Guardians have several stats that suggest they can win. Their batting average ranks 16th in the league, and they have hit 72 home runs this season. With a stolen base rank of 10th, they have speed on the bases, which can be a game-changer.
José Ramírez remains a standout player for the Guardians with a batting average of .324 and 13 home runs. Logan Allen, the starting pitcher, holds a 4-4 record and will aim to add another win. With a solid mix of speed and power, the Guardians have the tools to secure a victory against the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants Can Win If…
The San Francisco Giants are looking to bounce back after a close 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that game, Daniel Johnson hit a home run, while Jung Hoo Lee and Mike Yastrzemski contributed key hits. The Giants showed resilience by keeping the game tight against a strong Dodgers lineup.
Key stats show the Giants’ potential to win. Their team ERA of 3.30 ranks 3rd in the league, and they have given up the second fewest home runs at 55. This strong pitching performance can help them control the game against the Cleveland Guardians.
Rafael Devers is a player to watch, with a batting average of .272 and 15 home runs. He leads the team in both categories and can provide the offensive spark needed. With Justin Verlander on the mound, the Giants have an experienced pitcher ready to guide them to a win.
The Lean
The Giants are favored with a moneyline of -143 against the Guardians at +119. The Giants have a strong pitching staff with a 3.30 ERA, ranking 3rd in the league. The Guardians’ pitching ranks 19th with a 3.99 ERA. Given these stats, the recommendation is to pick the Giants to win. The model projects a score of Giants 5, Guardians 3.
The over/under line is set at 8.0. The Giants’ strong pitching and the Guardians’ middle-of-the-pack hitting suggest a lower-scoring game. The model projects a total score of 8 runs. The recommendation is to take the under, as both teams have shown solid pitching performances this season.
The Ace is Back: Verlander Returns for New-Look Giants
A new era is dawning in San Francisco. One night after superstar Rafael Devers made his debut, the San Francisco Giants will get another massive reinforcement as future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander makes his return from the injured list. He’ll take the mound on Wednesday night against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.
Verlander Eager to Rejoin Revamped Lineup
Verlander (0-3, 4.33 ERA) will make his first start in a month after being sidelined with pectoral soreness. The three-time Cy Young winner has been a hard-luck pitcher this season, often getting little run support, but he’s excited to pitch for this newly powerful lineup.
“It feels exciting. I’ve been pretty anxious wanting to pitch,” Verlander said. “Anytime you can bring in a great player (like Devers), I think the longer you can have him be an impact over the course of the season, the better.” The impact of a blockbuster trade on a team’s odds is a major topic in our expert betting guide.

Cleveland’s Tough Task
The Guardians managed to win the series opener 3-2, but now they face the tall task of dealing with Verlander. They will counter with lefty Logan Allen (4-4, 4.28), who has had success against the Giants’ new star in the past, holding Devers to just one single in nine career at-bats. That one-on-one duel will be a fascinating subplot in Wednesday’s game.
Verlander, meanwhile, has a lifetime of experience against Cleveland’s veterans. He has faced them 57 times in his career, more than any other opponent. This pitching matchup between a returning ace and a young lefty will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.
As the Giants debut their new one-two punch of Devers and Verlander, they are looking like one of the most dangerous MLB teams in the National League. To see if our experts think Verlander can get his first win as a Giant, check out our daily MLB picks.