The Cleveland Guardians continue to ride one of the hottest stretches in Major League Baseball as they host the Baltimore Orioles on July 22, 2025, with momentum and confidence squarely on their side. Now sitting atop the AL Central with a strong 60–40 record, Cleveland has put together a solid 6–2 run over their last eight games, driven by timely hitting, elite bullpen work, and a lockdown defense that continues to smother opponents. Tanner Bibee is scheduled to start for the Guardians, and the young right-hander has been sensational of late, stringing together three consecutive quality starts with a combined ERA under 2.00 in that span. His rising strikeout numbers, paired with excellent command, make him a dangerous matchup for a Baltimore offense that has been sluggish during their current four-game skid. José Ramírez remains the heartbeat of Cleveland’s offense, consistently producing in high-leverage moments while anchoring the infield with elite glove work. Josh Naylor has been an equally potent force, particularly in clutch RBI situations, and the continued emergence of Steven Kwan and Andrés Giménez gives this lineup depth and speed from top to bottom.

Defensively, the Guardians have been nearly flawless in July, committing fewer than three errors all month and showcasing elite range up the middle with Giménez and Brayan Rocchio. The bullpen remains a major asset, with Emmanuel Clase leading the league in saves and the likes of Scott Barlow and Nick Sandlin forming a dependable bridge from the starters to the ninth inning. What’s made Cleveland particularly formidable at home is their ability to capitalize on mistakes—whether that’s a passed ball, a wild pitch, or a misplayed fly ball—and their aggressive baserunning often forces the issue. In betting terms, Cleveland has been one of the most profitable ATS teams in the American League when playing at home against teams with winning percentages between .490 and .510, a window that currently fits the Orioles. The Guardians are also 9–3 in series finale games at Progressive Field this season and have covered the spread in five of their last seven Sunday contests. Their ability to play small ball and manufacture runs without relying solely on the long ball makes them a tough out even when the bats aren’t red-hot. Entering this matchup, Cleveland holds every intangible edge—form, pitching, momentum, and home-field advantage—and with Bibee dealing and the bullpen rested, the Guardians will aim to sweep or take another series with a professional, fundamentally sound approach. If they can keep Henderson and Santander in check and avoid early deficits, they’re poised to keep their AL Central cushion intact and continue building their postseason résumé. With Terry Francona’s methodical style still imprinting the team culture, this group plays clean, poised baseball, and they’ve proven time and again they can win in different ways—something that could make them dangerous deep into October.