Guardians vs Phillies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

Tom Oldfield - Contributor at Covers.com
Tom Oldfield • Betting Analyst 22+ years betting experience
Updated: May 22, 2026 , 12:47 PM ET • 4 min read

With Cristopher Sanchez on fire, the Philadelphia Phillies will have the edge as they look to snap the Cleveland Guardians’ win streak.

MLB

Match starts: 4 hrs
CLE
43 %
PHI
57 %
EXPERT PICK - MONEYLINE
Philadelphia -175 Philadelphia -175
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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61).
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61).

The AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians roll into town on a six-game win streak, but Cristopher Sanchez and the revived Philadelphia Phillies are waiting for them.

Philadelphia has won six of its last seven series to get back to .500, and my Guardians vs. Phillies predictions back the hosts when they take on Cleveland starter Gavin Williams, who’s had some wobbly moments this season.

Get the lowdown on this matchup with my free MLB picks for Friday, May 22.

Who will win Guardians vs Phillies today: Phillies (-175)

For the Philadelphia Phillies, the gloom is long gone. They’re now 16-6 since Don Mattingly took over, and I’m trusting ace Cristopher Sanchez to bring the heat in tonight’s contest.

Sanchez enters with a 1.82 ERA, and the Phillies have won each of his past four starts. In fact, the lefty hasn’t given up a run this month — and he’s only allowed more than two earned runs once this year.

Meanwhile, Gavin Williams has posted a 5.12 ERA in his last five outings, and Alec Bohm and Trea Turner are a combined 6-for-9 against the Cleveland Guardians righty.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Cristopher Sanchez has logged a 29.9% strikeout rate through 10 starts this season — on pace for a career high — and he’s racked up 30 Ks across his three outings so far in May.

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Guardians vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (-105)

Sanchez’s red-hot form has dragged down the O/U line, but I’m still taking the Under, which is 8-2 in the Phillies’ last 10 games.

Three of Sanchez’s past four outings have delivered six total runs or fewer, and both these teams rank in the bottom third of the majors in batting average.

Though Williams is still searching for his best stuff, he only allowed two runs in six innings against Cincinnati last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Guardians’ winning run hasn’t really been fueled by offense. They’ve scored three runs or fewer in six of their last nine contests.

Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-7, -5.30 units
  • Over/Under bets: 8-2, +5.16 units

Guardians vs Phillies odds

  • Moneyline: Guardians +145 | Phillies -175
  • Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-150) | Phillies -1.5 (+125)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-1115) | Under 6.5 (-105)

Guardians vs Phillies trend

The Under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings between these teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Phillies.

How to watch Guardians vs Phillies and game info

Location Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date Friday, May 22, 2026
First pitch 6:40 p.m. ET
TV Guardians.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams
(6-3, 3.67 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez
(5-2, 1.82 ERA)

Guardians vs Phillies latest injuries

Guardians vs Phillies weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Tom Oldfield - Covers
Betting Analyst

Tom Oldfield’s sports writing journey over the past 20 years has taken him from the Premier League and Champions League to the NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB, with a wide range of articles and betting previews. Tom has worked closely with London’s Sportsbeat sports news agency as well as (thrillingly!) covering the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run, and he has appeared on BBC World Service and The Back Page podcast.

A graduate of the University of Nottingham in the UK, he is the author of biographies on Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Gary Neville and Cesc Fabregas, and he co-authors a long-running series of children’s soccer books with his brother, Matt.

As a regular bettor across the top sports leagues, particularly with FanDuel and bet365, he is well versed on all the major markets and the next big game is rarely far from his thoughts. The best betting advice he has received is to monitor multiple sportsbooks to grab the best possible value.

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