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Houston defeated Cleveland 2–0 on April 22 at Progressive Field in a low-scoring affair that fell well short of the Vegas over-under total of 1. The Astros' pitching staff dominated despite a bloated season ERA of 5.81, striking out 10 Guardians batters while allowing just 5 hits and 0 earned runs—a shutout performance that proved decisive in the matchup. Cleveland's offense sputtered throughout, managing only 5 hits with a .692 OPS and 10 strikeouts against Houston's pitchers, though the Guardians drew 4 walks and committed no defensive errors. Houston's lineup, while modest with 6 hits and a .259 batting average, made their opportunities count: 1 home run and 2 RBIs proved sufficient to secure the road victory. The Astros' superior pitching efficiency and clutch run production offset Cleveland's slightly better plate discipline, highlighting a stark contrast in execution that will likely inform how each team approaches the next rotation matchup.