The caretakers when they combine with the money against the struggling Astros feel like they are stealing from the American League championship

It was intense yesterday. I had a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays and I picked the Cubs to win. They jumped ahead with five runs at the beginning of the game and failed to hold on as they gave up eight runs to the Blue Jays near the end of the game. It can be frustrating how quickly a win can turn into a loss.

Let’s avoid that fate Sunday as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Houston Astros.

The Rangers are back in first place in the AL Central. I often discuss how the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers find ways to compete every year despite not having top talent on their team. Missing from that mix are the guards, who always seem to have a competitive team. They have a superstar, but because he plays in Cleveland, Jose Ramirez gets a lot less attention than the other top players in the league. The good thing about the guards is that he doesn’t manage it well every year, they still win.

Cleveland will send Slade Cecconi. One of the things that makes the Guardians successful year after year is finding talent or bringing out the best in their pitching staff. They haven’t really been able to do that with Cecconi. He is 3-5 on the season with a 4.60 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. He made two home starts, so the numbers are a bit skewed, but he has a higher ERA on the road than at home. The good news is that he is locked up for most of May and June. He has allowed three or fewer runs in eight consecutive starts, but has also gone six innings just twice in that span. He has allowed two or fewer in each of the last three games.

The Astros were a winning team no matter how many players they lost. Obviously, they had a big offense that helped them win the World Series, but they also had a lot of top talent come through their clubhouse. Even after the great players left, the team continued to do well. It may come down to them, eventually, as they are just 36-42. The good news for Houston fans is that they still have a chance to win the division, with just a few games left.

Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez celebrates with Christian Walker after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., on June 12, 2026. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

They will need to get some help from their boarding staff, however. When you put together the Astros offense and Guardian pitch, you could have a really strong World Series team. That won’t happen, though. Today, they need Kai-Wei Teng to deliver a good performance for them. He has made a few starts this season as he started in the bullpen. This season, he has a 4.31 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. It hasn’t been very good in his last few starts, though. He has allowed 14 earned runs in 12.1 innings this month.

Astros hitters are 12 for 36 against Cecconi. That is a major cause of concern when trying to support Caregivers. Isaac Paredes is 3-for-6 against him with a homer. That’s not bad, but it’s one guy that stands out. Rangers haven’t had much experience against Teng, so there isn’t much to talk about.

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Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter runs the bases after hitting a home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening day game in Seattle, Wash., March 26, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

I think there are two aspects to this game. Over 8.5 makes a lot of sense because Teng was allowing a lot of runs. However, the guard offense is not the most impressive aspect of the team. I think it makes a lot of sense, if you look at the way Cecconi was playing, to take the guards to win the game. I’m not really sure why we get them for extra money, but I’m happy to take them. Give me Cleveland on the money line.

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