Cleveland Guardians (84-62) vs Tampa Bay Rays (71-75)
Game Info: Friday, September 13, 2024 at 7:10 pm (Progressive Field)
The Line: Betting Odds: Cleveland Guardians -167 / Tampa Bay Rays +141 — Over/Under: 7.5
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians meet Friday in MLB action from Progressive Field. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians prediction. This will be the second 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
Tampa Bay played the Philadelphia Phillies in their last series. The Rays lost the first two games 2-1 and 9-4, then on Wednesday Tampa took another defeat 3-2. The Rays powered out a 5-2 win in the Thursday opener versus the Guardians. Ryan Pepiot went 2.0 innings with two earned runs in the start.
In the starter slot Friday the Rays are going with Zack Littell. So far Littell is 6-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 26 starts. Littell is 22-20 with a 4.02 ERA in 199 games (44 starts).
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
Over on the Guardians’ side, they took on the Chicago White Sox this week. Cleveland won 5-3 and 5-0 in the first two games, then on Wednesday completed the sweep with a 6-4 victory. In the Thursday matchup, the Guardians were out-hit 10-5. Starter Gavin Williams had three earned runs in 5.1 innings of work.
As a starter for Friday, the Guardians are going with Tanner Bibee. This year Bibee is 11-7 with a 3.56 ERA in 28 starts. Bibee is 21-11 with a 3.28 ERA in 53 career starts.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the last five games between the Rays and Guardians has gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Twelve of the Rays’ last 14 road 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 games.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last three night games against AL East opponents.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Steven Kwan has hit a home run in two of the Guardians’ last three games at Progressive Field against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Josh Naylor has recorded a Double in four of the Guardians’ last five night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Guardians’ last four games against AL opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has scored at least one run in each of the Guardians’ last nine games against AL East opponents at Progressive Field.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last nine games as favorites against AL East opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one total base in each of the Guardians’ last nine games as favorites against AL East opponents.
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in nine of the Guardians’ last 10 games against the Rays.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four road games against AL Central opponents.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances with the Rays as road underdogs against the Guardians.
- Jose Siri has scored a run in four of his last five appearances at Progressive Field.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last six night games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one total base in each of the Rays’ last six night games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction
I’m leaning toward the Guardians but I could probably go either way. Bibee gave up five earned in 5.0 innings back on August 28 versus KC, but since then he’s been better. In his last pair, Bibee is 1-1 with 11.0 innings and three earned. As for Littell, he’s coming off 5.0 clean frames versus Baltimore but took a loss to the Twins with four earned in 4.0 innings in the start before that.
On Thursday the Guardians had an early lead but couldn’t score after the second inning. Cleveland had several batters come up empty at the plate on a pretty slow day. Cleveland needs the bats to wake up for Friday’s game.