Guardians Host Astros in Monday Matchup

Cleveland looks to extend win streak against struggling Houston squad

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:18am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in vibrant shades of orange and navy blue.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the struggling Astros and division-leading Guardians.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Guardians (12-10) host the Houston Astros (8-14) in an American League matchup on Monday at Progressive Field. The Guardians are favored at -150 on the moneyline, with the over/under set at 9 runs. Colton Gordon is expected to start for Houston, while Slade Cecconi takes the mound for Cleveland.

Why it matters

The Astros have struggled out of the gate this season, sitting in last place in the AL West with an 8-14 record. A win over the division-leading Guardians could help Houston gain some momentum. Meanwhile, Cleveland is looking to extend its current win streak and solidify its position atop the AL Central.

The details

The Astros have hit 26 home runs as a team and are scoring 5.3 runs per game, good for 5th in MLB. However, their pitching staff has struggled, posting a 6.19 team ERA (30th in the league). Starter Colton Gordon has a career 5.67 ERA. The Guardians have a more balanced attack, hitting .225 as a team but holding a 3.96 team ERA. Starter Slade Cecconi has a 5.08 career ERA.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • First pitch is set for the standard MLB start time of 7:10 PM local time.

The players

Colton Gordon

The expected starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, Gordon has a 6-4 career record with a 5.58 FIP and 1.466 WHIP in the major leagues.

Slade Cecconi

The expected starting pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, Cecconi has a 9-17 career record with a 5.08 ERA and 1.270 WHIP in the majors.

Houston Astros

The Astros are currently in last place in the AL West with an 8-14 record, struggling on the mound with a 6.19 team ERA.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians lead the AL Central with a 12-10 record, boasting a 3.96 team ERA and looking to extend their current win streak.

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What they’re saying

“We need to turn things around quickly if we want to stay in the playoff hunt.”

— Justin Verlander, Astros Pitcher

“This is an important series for us to solidify our position at the top of the division.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

What’s next

The Guardians and Astros will play a three-game series, with the second and third games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at Progressive Field.

The takeaway

This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions early in the season. The Guardians' strong pitching and the Astros' offensive struggles could make this a tough series for the visiting team as Cleveland looks to widen its lead in the AL Central.