On the evening of July 9, 2024, the Cleveland Guardians are scheduled to take on the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, starting at 6:40 PM under overcast skies. The pitching matchup will see Ben Lively of the Guardians, who holds an impressive 3.142 ERA, going head-to-head with Kenta Maeda of the Tigers, who has struggled this season with a 6.714 ERA.

In the 2024 AL Central Division, the Guardians are currently second with a 56-33 record, reflecting a 0.63 win percentage, and are leading the division in matchups with a divisional record of 14-11. Despite a recent loss, their overall performance remains strong with five wins out of their last ten games and high home and away win ratios.

Conversely, the Tigers are positioned eleventh in the division, having secured 43 wins and 48 losses, which equates to a 0.47 winning percentage. They have managed to be middle-of-the-pack in division play and are currently enjoying a four-game winning streak.

For bettors, this game presents intriguing odds. The point spread is set at 1.5 in favor of the Guardians. The over/under for total runs scored in the game is pegged at 8.5, reflecting expectations of a moderate scoring game. For those looking toward the money line bets, the Guardians are marked as the favourites at -141, while the Tigers stand at +120, suggesting a somewhat competitive matchup with a slight edge to the Guardians.