Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cleveland Guardians: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with a Memorial Day clash against the Cleveland Guardians at 6:10 PM ET.

The Dodgers are coming off a draining weekend series in New York against the Mets, capped by a nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball appearance. They’ve scored just three total runs over their last two games and now face a quick turnaround in a new city.

The Guardians, meanwhile, return home after taking three of four from the first-place Tigers in Detroit. Though they were dominated by Tarik Skubal’s complete-game shutout Sunday, Cleveland had a much more favorable travel schedule and enters this game in a stronger position physically.

With Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound for the Dodgers and Gavin Williams starting for the Guardians, the game sets up with intriguing betting value.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cleveland Guardians betting picks and predictions

Cleveland Guardians +1.5 (-125)

Despite the talent gap between these two teams, the situational factors heavily favor Cleveland. The Dodgers are operating on fumes after a chaotic series in New York that included a 98-minute rain delay, multiple bullpen games and a late-night flight to Cleveland following Sunday Night Baseball. In contrast, the Guardians wrapped up their series early Sunday afternoon and return home having taken three of four from Detroit.

On the mound, Gavin Williams may have a 3.94 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, but he’s been much sharper lately. After a shaky April, Williams posted a 2.25 ERA in May and has allowed just three walks over his last two starts. He’s also been far better at home, with a 3.47 ERA and improved command.

Williams is big at 6’6”, and his fastball sits 96.9 MPH. With the extension he gets off the mound, if he is on tonight, he could keep a Dodger offense in check that has struggled with top velocity and punching out. Though each of his two performances against the Dodgers have been poor, his recent form and the Dodgers’ travel fatigue could level the playing field.

Yamamoto has been excellent, with a 1.86 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 68 strikeouts over 58 innings, and he should keep Cleveland in check. But Williams’ reverse splits and improved control suggest he’s capable of keeping this one close, especially if the Dodgers’ bats stay sluggish.

Dodgers to win? Possibly. Guardians to keep it within one run? More likely. Take Cleveland on the run line.

Over 7.5 Total Runs (-105)

While both starting pitchers have strong upside, there are plenty of reasons to like the Over in this matchup, and the play serves as a hedge if the Dodgers tag Williams like they did in 2023 and 2024. 

The Dodgers are due for a breakout at the plate after scoring just three runs over the weekend. Williams has a history of being shelled by Los Angeles, including a disastrous outing last year in which he failed to escape the first inning, and the Dodgers lineup is still 7-for-13 with a 1.416 OPS against him.

On the flip side, while Yamamoto has been dominant in 2025, he did throw a season-high 110 pitches in his last outing. That could impact his sharpness, especially after demanding travel and a depleted bullpen behind him. If he runs into trouble or exits early, the Dodgers’ overworked relief corps could be exposed.

Cleveland’s offense was embarrassed by Tarik Skubal on Sunday, and teams often bounce back after such an outing. Meanwhile, the Dodgers lineup is obviously stacked, and it’s just scary to go under a number as low as 7.5 with them, especially when they have scored 7 and 9 runs the two times Williams has started against them.

Even if both starters go deep, there’s enough volatility and fatigue in both bullpens to push this game over the relatively low total of 7.5.

Mookie Betts Over 1.5 Total Hits, Runs and RBIs (-120)

After a quiet weekend (2-for-13, no extra-base hits, runs, or RBIs), Mookie Betts is primed for a bounce-back performance, and this matchup offers the perfect setup. Betts is 2-for-3 in his career vs. Gavin Williams with a double and a walk. And despite a modest .259 average on the season, he’s excelled against right-handed pitching with a .271 AVG, 6 HR and a .781 OPS.

More importantly, Williams struggles mightily against right-handed batters (.348 AVG, .912 OPS allowed), and Betts has one of the best plate approaches in the league. He’s walked more than he’s struck out in 2025 (24 BB to 21 K), meaning he’s likely to force Williams into the zone, where Betts can do damage.

Betts hits behind Shohei Ohtani and ahead of Freddie Freeman, putting him in the middle of LA’s most productive lineup cluster. He has multiple paths to clear this 1.5 total, and if Williams falters even slightly, Betts is a strong candidate to capitalize.

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Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cleveland Guardians odds

Los Angeles Dodgers	-165 ML
Cleveland Guardians	+140 ML
Run Line	LA Dodgers -1.5 (+105)
Total	O/U 7.5

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cleveland Guardians player props

Player Home Run Odds

Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers)	+260
Max Muncy (LA Dodgers)	+500
Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers)	+525
Teoscar Hernandez (LA Dodgers)	+550
Kyle Manzardo (CLE Guardians)	+625
Will Smith (LA Dodgers)	+625

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.