Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros Picks and Prediction for Sunday, June 21, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Cleveland Guardians visit the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Sunday at 2:10 PM ET on MLB.TV. Cleveland enters the matchup at 40-36 and remains in the thick of the AL Central race, while Houston is 36-41 and trying to climb back into contention in the AL West. The Astros opened this series with a convincing 9-3 victory on Friday and have won three of their last five games overall. Cleveland has alternated wins and losses recently and continues to rely heavily on its pitching staff to stay competitive. Cash in with our free MLB picks.
Guardians Relying on Pitching Despite Offensive Struggles
Cleveland has been one of the lower-scoring teams in baseball this season, batting .229 with 301 runs scored and 71 home runs through 76 games. The Guardians rank near the bottom of MLB in most major offensive categories, making run production a nightly challenge. Brayan Rocchio leads the club with a .273 batting average, while Angel Martinez has provided power with 11 home runs and 33 RBI. Chase DeLauter has also contributed 34 RBI, although Cleveland continues to deal with several injuries throughout the lineup.
The Guardians remain competitive because of a pitching staff that ranks among the league’s best. Cleveland owns a 3.85 ERA and 1.27 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .238 batting average. That staff has recorded nearly 700 strikeouts and consistently keeps games within reach. However, the offense has scored three runs or fewer in three of its last five contests, and the absence of several key contributors has limited the lineup’s upside.
Injuries: Chase DeLauter (10-Day IL), Tanner Burns (7-Day IL), Carlos Hernandez (60-Day IL), Angel Martinez (10-Day IL), Jose Ramirez (10-Day IL).
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Astros Showing Signs of Life at the Plate
Houston has struggled to match expectations this season, but the offense remains capable of producing big numbers. The Astros are hitting .244 with 353 runs scored and 102 home runs, one of the better power totals in the American League. Friday’s 9-3 victory over Cleveland showcased that potential as Houston generated consistent traffic on the bases and delivered timely extra-base hits.
Yordan Alvarez continues to anchor the lineup with 24 home runs, 55 RBI, a .324 batting average, and a 1.064 OPS. Christian Walker has added 18 home runs and 52 RBI, while Isaac Paredes has contributed 10 home runs. Houston's pitching staff has been a major issue, posting a 4.85 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, but the lineup has enough power to overcome those shortcomings when it gets rolling. The Astros have scored 17 runs across their last three victories and appear to be gaining momentum offensively.
Injuries: Nick Allen (10-Day IL), LaMonte Wade Jr. (10-Day IL), Bennett Sousa (15-Day IL), Walker Janek (7-Day IL), Cristian Javier (60-Day IL).
Pitching Matchup
Cleveland Guardians – Slade Cecconi
Cecconi enters with a 3-5 record, 4.60 ERA, and 1.40 WHIP across 78.1 innings. While the overall numbers are average, he has pitched better recently. Over his last three starts, Cecconi has allowed just four earned runs across 16.2 innings. His biggest concern is a previous meeting against Houston when he surrendered six earned runs over five innings.
Houston Astros – Kai-Wei Teng
Teng is 3-6 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 54.1 innings this season. The right-hander has struck out 58 batters but has struggled with consistency. Teng has allowed 14 earned runs across his last three starts and surrendered three home runs in his most recent outing against Detroit.
Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros Pick
- Houston Astros Moneyline
Houston enters with the hotter offense and already handled Cleveland comfortably in the series opener. The Guardians continue to struggle at the plate, while the Astros possess the most dangerous hitter in the matchup in Alvarez. With Houston producing more power and facing a Cleveland lineup missing key bats, the Astros have the edge at home.
Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros Over/Under Pick
- Over
Both starting pitchers enter with ERAs above 4.00, and neither has been particularly reliable recently. Houston has scored nine runs in the series opener and owns 102 home runs this season, while Cleveland should have opportunities against a Houston pitching staff carrying a 4.85 ERA. With two vulnerable starters and both bullpens seeing increased recent usage, this matchup has enough run-scoring potential to push the total over the number.
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