Game Details

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Date

Friday, April 17, 2026

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Time

6:10 PM ET

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Venue

Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

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TV/Streaming

MLB.TV / MASN

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Series

Game 2 of 4 (BAL @ CLE)

Betting Odds

💰 Live Markets

Moneyline

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Run Line

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Over/Under

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Verified odds for this matchup were not available at time of publication. Please check FanDuel, DraftKings, or your preferred sportsbook for current lines. ESPN Analytics lists Cleveland as a slight favorite with a 51.9% win probability vs. Baltimore's 48.1%.

Preview

Game 2 of a pivotal four-game American League interleague series arrives at Progressive Field on Friday, and the Cleveland Guardians hold the early edge after winning the opener 4–2 on Thursday night. Now both clubs send veteran arms to the mound in a pitching matchup that could swing momentum significantly in either direction.

The Cleveland Guardians (11–9) sit just half a game behind the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central and are playing with genuine purpose at home. The Baltimore Orioles (9–10) enter this contest on a three-game losing streak, sitting 2.5 games behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. For Baltimore, a series split in Cleveland would be a much-needed stabilizer before they continue a demanding road swing into Kansas City.

Both probable starters — Tanner Bibee for Cleveland and Chris Bassitt for Baltimore — are carrying early-season ERAs that suggest neither has fully found their rhythm yet. That creates an environment where lineup depth, bullpen health, and situational hitting could decide this game just as much as the pitching matchup. With Baltimore's bullpen already thin due to multiple injuries, Cleveland's offense may find more opportunities as the game deepens.

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Cleveland Guardians Analysis

Key Players to Watch

The Guardians' lineup construction remains one of their greatest strengths. Their ability to put together multi-run innings against struggling starters has been on display this season. Home advantage at Progressive Fieldwhere Cleveland's familiarity with the venue and strong home crowd give them a consistent edgeis also worth noting.

Record: 11–9 | AL Central: 2nd, 0.5 GB | Streak: W1

The Guardians are quietly building a solid early-season foundation. Sitting at 11–9 and within striking distance of the AL Central lead, Cleveland is doing what Cleveland typically does — finding ways to compete through pitching, defense, and timely hitting.

Their last five games tell a story of resilience: a blowout loss at Atlanta (13–1) was followed by a split in St. Louis (W 9–3, then two close losses), and then a strong win over Baltimore in Game 1 of this series (4–2). That ability to bounce back quickly after ugly outings is a hallmark of well-managed teams.

Team Stats: The Guardians hit .229 as a team with a .314 OBP and .383 SLG. They've scored 75 runs across 20 games. On the mound, Cleveland posts a 4.06 team ERA and 1.32 WHIP — solid, if not elite. Their strikeout total (181 K) ranks among the higher marks in the AL, and they've generated an opponent batting average of .236.

Probable Starter — Tanner Bibee (RHP):
Bibee enters at 0–2 with a 6.38 ERA and 1.64 WHIP through 18.1 innings. Those numbers don't look pretty, but they're somewhat deceiving — he's allowed 24 hits, 6 walks, and 4 home runs, but has also racked up 18 strikeouts. Bibee's stuff is still present; the issue has been a handful of multi-run innings where he's been unable to escape early damage. If he can be more efficient through five or six innings and limit the home run ball, Cleveland's bullpen should be capable of holding whatever lead they build.

The Guardians' lineup construction remains one of their greatest strengths. Their ability to put together multi-run innings against struggling starters has been on display this season. Home advantage at Progressive Field, where Cleveland's familiarity with the venue and strong home crowd give them a consistent edge, is also worth noting.

Injury Report:

Carlos Hernandez (RP) — OUT through ~May 1
Gabriel Arias (SS) — 10-Day IL, est. return May 15
Andrew Walters (RP) — 15-Day IL, est. return May 25

The bullpen losses hurt depth, but Cleveland still has enough arms to manage a standard nine-inning contest. The Arias absence at shortstop does affect their defensive versatility, but the lineup has managed without him.

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Baltimore Orioles Analysis

Key Players to Watch

The Orioles have shown they can score in bunches when things click — witness the 9–7 win over Arizona just this week. Their offense has the talent to get to Bibee if they can put together a patient approach early in counts. Getting good at-bats against a struggling starter could be the Orioles' best path to an early advantage.

Record: 9–10 | AL East: 3rd, 2.5 GB | Streak: L3

The Orioles came into this series needing a jolt. Sitting at 9–10 after losing three straight — two to Arizona (including a 10-inning defeat) and now Thursday's Game 1 at Cleveland — Baltimore is at a crossroads in the early schedule. The margin for error in the AL East is thin, with Tampa Bay running hot at 11–7 and the Yankees right behind.

The Orioles' bats have been serviceable. They lead both teams in batting average (.245 vs. Cleveland's .229), OBP (.334), and SLG (.393). Their team ERA of 3.99 is actually better than Cleveland's 4.06, which underscores that this record underperformance may be more about sequencing and key moments than sustained poor play.

Baltimore went 7–4 in their best stretch of April before this rough patch, showing they have the talent to compete. The bigger concern going into Friday is the state of their bullpen.

Probable Starter — Chris Bassitt (RHP):
Bassitt has been one of the more difficult storylines of Baltimore's early season. The veteran right-hander is 0–2 with a 9.00 ERA through just 11.0 innings — an alarming pace that has put enormous pressure on their relief corps. He's allowed 19 hits, 7 walks, and 1 home run in that span, with a 2.36 WHIP that indicates runners on base have been a constant presence. The Orioles need Bassitt to provide length and quality innings; another early exit would further strain an already-depleted bullpen.

Injury Report — A Major Concern:
Baltimore's injury situation is one of the most pressing storylines of this series:

Tyler O'Neill (RF) — 7-Day IL, est. return Apr 18 (may be close to activation)
Hans Crouse (RP) — 7-Day IL, est. return Apr 18
Dietrich Enns (RP) — 15-Day IL, est. return Apr 19
Andrew Kittredge (RP) — 15-Day IL, est. return Apr 20
Keegan Akin (RP) — 10-Day IL, est. return Apr 20

Four relief pitchers on the IL simultaneously is a serious problem. If Bassitt exits early again, Baltimore's bullpen depth will be tested significantly. The possible return of Tyler O'Neill in the coming days could give the offense a boost, but he's still day-to-day.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

This four-game series at Progressive Field marks the first extended meeting between these franchises in 2026. In Game 1 (April 16), Cleveland dispatched Baltimore 4–2, with the Guardians riding solid pitching and timely hitting to set up the series edge they now hold.

Series Context:

Game 1 result: CLE 4, BAL 2
Both teams are 2–3 in their respective last five games entering this contest
Baltimore is on a three-game losing streak; Cleveland has won their last game

Situational Trends (Verified):

ESPN Analytics favors Cleveland with a 51.9% win probability
Baltimore's bullpen has been significantly weakened by four relievers on the IL simultaneously — a factor that increases the value of Cleveland's patient, high-count approach
Bassitt's 9.00 ERA through 11.0 IP suggests the Guardians' lineup may find early success if they can work into his pitch count
Bibee's 18 strikeouts in 18.1 IP suggest he still misses bats; Baltimore's .245 team average would need to translate into contact quality against his stuff

Road vs. Home:
Cleveland has shown the capacity to be a strong home team, and Progressive Field is one of the better pitcher's parks in the AL. That factor, combined with Baltimore's thinned-out bullpen, tips the situational advantage toward the home side.

FAQ

What time does the Guardians vs. Orioles game start on April 17, 2026?

First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Where can I watch the Guardians vs. Orioles on April 17?

The game is available on MLB.TV nationally, with regional coverage on MASN for Baltimore-area viewers.

Who are the probable starting pitchers for April 17?

Baltimore sends veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt (0–2, 9.00 ERA) to the mound, while Cleveland counters with Tanner Bibee (0–2, 6.38 ERA).

What is the current series score between Baltimore and Cleveland?

Cleveland leads the four-game series 1–0 after winning Game 1 on April 16, 4–2.

Who are the key injured players heading into Friday's game?

Baltimore has four relievers on the IL — Hans Crouse, Dietrich Enns, Andrew Kittredge, and Keegan Akin — plus outfielder Tyler O'Neill. Cleveland is missing shortstop Gabriel Arias and relievers Carlos Hernandez and Andrew Walters. ---