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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cleveland Guardians

Saturday, Jul 18, 2026 G1Progressive Field1:10 PM ETPreview
PIT · Away · 50-47

Pittsburgh Pirates

NL Central · 2nd · 10.0 GB
:
1:10 PM ET
H2H 03
CLE · Home · 51-46

Cleveland Guardians

Starting pitchers
Starter form · last 5 starts
Season4.37
Last 54.25
Recent form near season pace
10 days restQS 20%Blow-up 0/5
506/15
106/21
306/27
107/02
007/08

↓ ERA trending down lately

Season3.81
Last 55.50
1.69 ERA worse in last 5
9 days restQS 20%Blow-up 1/5
706/17
206/22
206/28
307/03
207/09

↓ ERA trending down lately

Matchup edge
Jared Jones pitching edge·Pirates 73 L10
PitchingPirates
Pirates44Cleveland20
HittingPirates
Pirates66Cleveland29
BullpenCleveland
Pirates52Cleveland67
Lineup threats vs starter
Pirates vs Gavin Williams
Avg OPS 1.1013 hot hittersTop: Ozuna 1.666 · O'Hearn 1.100 · Mangum 1.000
Cleveland vs Jared Jones
Avg OPS 2.6671 hot hitterTop: Hoskins 2.667
Pittsburgh Pirates batters vs Gavin Williams
Batter
AVG
OPS
HR
0.333
1.000
2
0.182
0.637
21
0.400
1.100
16
0.333
1.666
8
0.000
0.000
2
Cleveland Guardians batters vs Jared Jones
Batter
AVG
OPS
HR
0.500
2.667
9
◆ Matchup preview

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cleveland Guardians (2026-07-17). Jared Jones vs Gavin Williams at Progressive Field.

Starters — Jared Jones has a 4.37 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 35.0 innings with 10.03 K/9, 2.83 BB/9, and 1.29 HR/9. His last three starts: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 K, 0 BB on July 8; 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 2 BB on July 2; 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB on June 27. The trend is listed down, but the most recent outing was his sharpest of the three. Gavin Williams carries a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 113.1 innings with 10.64 K/9, 2.94 BB/9, and 1.35 HR/9. His last three starts: 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 11 K, 1 BB on July 9; 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 2 BB on July 3; 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 K, 3 BB on June 28. His trend is also listed down, though he has still missed bats at a high rate and comes off an 11-strikeout performance.

Teams — Pittsburgh brings the stronger offensive profile with a .768 OPS, .263 average, and 516 runs scored. The Pirates are also 7-3 over their last 10 games, which supports the recent form angle. Their pitching staff has a 4.32 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, numbers that suggest more volatility behind Jones. Cleveland has a .679 OPS, .229 average, and 385 runs scored, so the lineup production has been more modest overall. The Guardians are 6-4 in their last 10, and their run prevention has been the cleaner unit with a 3.71 team ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

Key facts
Pirates offense leads this matchup with a .768 OPS and 516 runsWilliams has the deeper workload at 113.1 IP with 10.64 K/9Guardians staff edge: 3.71 ERA and 1.26 WHIP
◆ Lineup notes

Jake Mangum has gone 1-for-3 against Gavin Williams, while Ryan O'Hearn owns the strongest track record in this group at 2-for-5 in 6 PA with a .400 average and 1.100 OPS. Marcell Ozuna is 1-for-3 with a 1.666 OPS, and Brandon Lowe has the largest sample at 2-for-11 with a .182 average and .637 OPS. Jacob Gonzalez is hitless against Williams, going 0-for-1 in 2 PA with a .000 OPS. Bryan Reynolds, Esmerlyn Valdez, Nick Gonzales, and Henry Davis have no MLB history vs Williams.

Cleveland’s lineup has almost no familiarity with Jared Jones. Rhys Hoskins is the lone batter with prior exposure, going 1-for-2 in 3 PA with a .500 average and 2.667 OPS. Travis Bazzana, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter, Kyle Manzardo, Kahlil Watson, Gabriel Arias, Austin Hedges, and Steven Kwan have no MLB history vs Jones.

The away side clearly brings more experience against the opposing starter, with five hitters logging at least one prior plate appearance against Williams. Cleveland has just one batter with any MLB history against Jones, so Jared Jones enters with the more unfamiliar matchup set.

Head to head (2025–2026)
03
Cleveland Guardians lead series
3 meetings total
2025-04-20
Cleveland Guardians @ Pittsburgh Pirates
54
CLE
2025-04-19
Cleveland Guardians @ Pittsburgh Pirates
30
CLE
2025-04-18
Cleveland Guardians @ Pittsburgh Pirates
107
CLE
Team picture · 2026
73
WWWLLWWWLW
64
WWWWLLLLWW
PIT
CLE
Team AVG
0.263
0.229
Team OPS
0.768
0.679
Home runs
125
93
Runs scored
516
385
Team ERA
4.32
3.71
HR allowed
103
110