The Cleveland Indians are set to square off against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The game gets underway 1:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will showcase this AL showdown.
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Cleveland (+100) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-110). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at even money (+100) for over 7 runs and -120 for under 7. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -210 for the Indians +1.5 runs and +175 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Indians are 82-63 SU and are 68-76 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 20.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 17.5 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 79-65 SU and 81-62 ATS. They’ve gained 22.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 20.4 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have a 63-75-5 over/under record in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 70-67-7.
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco is the projected starter for the visiting Indians. Carrasco is 16-8 with a 3.41 ERA and 201 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with nine strikeouts and a 7.11 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays are going with lefty Blake Snell (18-5, 2.06 ERA), who has 186 strikeouts and 54 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.01. Snell is 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA in one start against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.70 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.65, along with a K/9 of 9.23.
Indians hitters have slashed .257/.331/.434 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this season, including 4.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Cleveland’s offense has been sparked by shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley, who’ve collectively blasted 49 home runs. Lindor is hitting .285/.358/.529 with 34 home runs, 85 RBIs, 119 runs and 23 steals, while Brantley is hitting .307 with 15 homers, 72 RBIs and 79 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have yielded 3.9 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 3.71, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.3. The bullpen has a 3.64 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s offense has put up 4.4 runs per outing, including 6.3 per game over its last 10 games and 7.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .293/.392/.521 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle have led the Rays’ batters this year. Duffy is hitting .297/.359/.370 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 52 runs scored, while Wendle’s line is .295/.342/.428 with seven homers, 51 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The Indians have lost 5.0 units and are 17-19 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 17 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 12.0 units and are 56-46 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 49 of those games, compared to 50 which went under the total.
Cleveland Indians vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in four of Cleveland’s last seven games.
- Cleveland has recorded 22.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.8 over its last five.
- The Indians have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
