Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction MLB Picks 9/12/24

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians meet Thursday in MLB action from Progressive Field. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Rays vs Guardians pick. We will examine:

The Tampa Bay Rays’ recent form and player performance

The Cleveland Guardians’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Tampa Bay Rays

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Cleveland Guardians

Recent betting trends in games played between the Rays and Guardians

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Rays vs Guardians game

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Rays are fresh off a series versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Tampa Bay lost the first pair 2-1 and 9-4. In the Wednesday finale, the Rays took a tough loss 3-2. Starter Shane Baz finished with 5.1 innings and two earned runs.

In the starter slot on Thursday, the Rays are going with Ryan Pepiot. So far Pepiot is 8-6 with a 3.66 ERA and 118 Ks. In 39 career games (32 starts) Pepiot is 13-7 with a 3.29 ERA. The Rays will take on the Red Sox after this series.

Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview

Over on the Guardians’ side, they played the Chicago White Sox in their last set. Cleveland won the first pair 5-3 and 5-0. In the finale, the Guardians powered out another win 6-4 to complete the sweep.

It’ll be Gavin Williams in the starter role on Thursday. Williams is 3-8 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts so far this year. Over 29 career starts Williams is 6-13 with a 4.12 ERA. The Guardians will play against the Twins and Cardinals following this series.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Guardians’ last five night games against AL East opponents has gone OVER the total runs line.
• Ten of the Rays’ last 12 night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last three night games at Progressive Field.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Josh Naylor has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Guardians’ last five home games against AL East opponents.
• Steven Kwan has scored at least one run in each of the Guardians’ last eight home games against AL East opponents.
• Lane Thomas has recorded a Double in each of the Guardians’ last three night games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last eight games as favorites against AL East opponents.
• Steven Kwan has hit a home run in each of the Guardians’ last two games at Progressive Field against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in each of the Guardians’ last five games as favorites against AL opponents.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one total base in each of the Guardians’ last eight games as favorites against AL East opponents.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Brandon Lowe has recorded an RBI in three of the Rays’ last four road games against AL Central opponents.
• Taylor Walls has scored a run in four of his last five appearances with the Rays as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
• Jose Siri has recorded a hit in 10 of his last 11 road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jose Siri has hit a home run in two of his three previous appearances with the Rays as underdogs against the Guardians.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Jose Siri has recorded at least one total base in 10 of his last 11 road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction

I’ll lean toward the Guardians. I could probably go either way, though. Williams is going to need a bounce-back start if Cleveland is going to win. He’s coming off a loss to the Dodgers with five earned in 0.2 innings. Prior to that, Williams went 1-1 with three earned in 12.0 innings over two starts. On Wednesday the Guardians bagged 10 team hits, but also had three errors in the victory. The good news is that Cleveland only had one bad inning and the early exploits at the plate were enough to get a win. I like the Guardians to keep it up on Thursday.