MLB matchup analysis

Padres vs Guardians Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Friday, August 14, 2026 at Progressive Field · 7:10 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Padres vs Guardians

Lab Rating
4.2/10
Model lean
Padres 56.5%
Market probability
45.2%
Model edge
+11.3%
Best moneyline
+119
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
56.5%
Market
45.2%

The case for San Diego Padres

Bats are hot: +0.024 wOBA
San Diego Padres is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for Cleveland Guardians

Their bats are hot: +0.012 wOBA
Cleveland Guardians is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Below the 61.0% official gate
Win probability is 56.5%. LyDia does not make a game official below 61.0%, no matter how good the price is. This is a value spot, not a high-confidence winner.
Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 4.2/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 11.29/35
LyDia leans toward San Diego Padres, but not strongly enough to earn full conviction credit.
Pitching plan: 0/20
No meaningful starting-pitcher edge favors San Diego Padres in this matchup.
The verdict LyDia passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupSan Diego Padres at Cleveland Guardians
DateFriday, August 14, 2026
First pitch7:10 PM ET
VenueProgressive Field
Starting pitchersMichael King vs Gavin Williams
WeatherGame-time forecast: 80°F, 0% precipitation chance, 6 mph wind from N.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Michael KingPadres · RHP
vs
Gavin WilliamsGuardians · RHP
MetricPadresGuardians
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅔6
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)7178
ERA (lower is better)3.373.55
WHIP (lower is better)1.171.04
K/9 (higher is better)7.911.5
K-BB% (higher is better)11.6%25.1%
K% (higher is better)21.5%32.3%
BB% (lower is better)9.8%7.2%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.62.6
HR/9 (lower is better)1.01.4
Ground-ball rate49.1%52.3%
Fly-ball rate50.9%47.7%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Gavin Williams a 7-point edge over Michael King, driven mainly by K-BB% (25.1% vs 11.6%) and K/9 (11.5 vs 7.9).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table. Highlighted cells mark a gap big enough to matter. K% and BB% are strikeout and walk rate as a share of batters faced -- K-BB% is the two combined into one skill number. HR/9 is home runs allowed per nine innings. Ground-ball and fly-ball rate are neither good nor bad on their own: high ground-ball pitchers trade strikeouts for double plays and fewer home runs, and on this data source the two rates are complementary (they add to 100%), not independent reads.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Michael King strikeouts
3.4 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.1K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -162 / U +132 · 5 books
Gavin Williams strikeouts
5.9 LyDia projected Ks
Qualifying projection: UNDER 7.5K · -1.6K difference
Market 7.5K · O +125 / U -155 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Padres are 7-3 in their last 10, averaging 4.9 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form; Guardians are 3-7 in their last 10, averaging 4.3 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form. Season run differential separates them by almost nothing (+0.01 against -0.25).

MetricPadresGuardians
Last 107-33-7
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)6-4 on the road3-7 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7600.700
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3350.316
Runs per game, last 15 days4.94.3
K% last 15 days (lower is better)19.0%18.1%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysPadresGuardians
OPS0.805 (+0.103 vs szn)0.691 (+0.010 vs szn)
Runs per game5.50 (+1.221 vs szn)3.92 (-0.039 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.353 (+0.042 vs szn)0.309
K% (lower is better)18.0% (-3.7% vs szn)19.5% (-2.2% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Padres have been the better offense, 0.353 wOBA to 0.309. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.042 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricPadresGuardians
Record65-5759-63
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.01-0.25
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.283.96
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.274.20
Season OPS0.7020.681
K% season (lower is better)21.8%21.8%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7050.690

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Padres and Guardians are highlighted.

Padres
Combined risk
5.4 Normal
Fatigue
6.3 Tired
Efficiency
6.9 Effective
Guardians
Combined risk
6.2 Tired
Fatigue
5.6 Normal
Efficiency
3.9 Below average

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricPadresGuardians
Fatigue6.3/10, Tired5.6/10, Normal
Efficiency6.9/10, Effective3.9/10, Below average
Combined risk5.4/10, Normal6.2/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days24.020.3
Back-to-back arms69
7-day ERA1.504.87
7-day WHIP1.081.77

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
9.0
Market total
7.5
Projected away runs
4.6
Projected home runs
3.8
Over price
+103
Under price
-117
San Diego Padres team total
4.6 projected
Line 3.5 · O +105 / U -125
Over research lean (+1.1)
Cleveland Guardians team total
3.8 projected
Line 3.5 · O -117 / U +100
No team-total lean

The model projects 1.5 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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