MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Cleveland Guardians @ Cincinnati Reds

MLB Baseball

2026-07-28 - Cleveland Guardians at Cincinnati Reds

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Cleveland Guardians @ Cincinnati Reds
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 28th July 2026 - Scheduled 1:40pm EST
6:40pm (British Time)

---

Preview

A double header has to be played in this inter-League series featuring two rivals that are trying to pick up the Ohio Cup.

There is more on the line than State bragging rights when the Cincinnati Reds (49-55) and the Cleveland Guardians (54-53) meet twice on Tuesday and that is trying to push towards the Wild Card positions in the respective Leagues. The trade deadline is coming up very quickly and it is series like this one that will help determine what the likes of the Guardians and Reds try and do before that deadline passes.

The Reds are 4.5 games out of the Wild Card positions in the National League and look more like a selling club, but they have signed Chase Burns to a big contract and that allows the starting pitcher to play with some freedom the rest of the way.

Chase Burns has a 12-1 record and 2.42 ERA in nineteen starts in 2026 in what is his second season in the Major League and looks like he could be a big part of the Cincinnati starting rotation for years to come.

He has earned the decision win in five of the last six starts and Chase Burns has not suffered a decision loss since early April, while he will head into this contest with a 3.09 ERA from those last six starts. Chase Burns will be preparing to face this rival for the first time on Tuesday.

The Guardians are occupying one of the Wild Card places in the American League, but they are looking for some consistency that can help close the 2 game gap at the top of the American League Central. They will turn to Slade Cecconi for the first of the two games to be played in this double header.

Slade Cecconi has a 4-7 record and 4.60 ERA in twenty starts made in what is his fourth season in the Major League.

July has proven to be a tough month for the pitcher who has a 0-1 record and 7.43 ERA from three starts made. Slade Cecconi will be heading into this game looking to turn things around against the Cleveland Guardians having put together a 0-3 record and 4.05 ERA in previous appearances against them.

Cleveland did take two of three at home against the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, but the Guardians have lost five in a row overall.

Prediction

The Cincinnati Reds look to have the edge on the mound and they can take the first of two games to be played on Tuesday.

The Pick :

Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Cleveland Guadians

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Cincinnati Reds to Win at -157 with BetOnline