Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Matchup

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The Cleveland Indians are playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will be televising this AL showdown.

Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Odds

The Rays have gone 72-63 SU this year and are 73-61 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 14.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 13.2 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Indians, on the other hand, are 77-58 SU and 65-69 ATS. The team has lost 13.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.7 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.

Indians games have an over/under record of 65-63-6 in 2018. Rays games have gone under 73 times, gone over 57 times and pushed on four occasions.

Diego Castillo is projected to start for Tampa Bay. Castillo is 3-2 with a 3.73 ERA and 43 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Indians this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Indians are handing the ball to righty Carlos Carrasco (16-7, 3.38 ERA), who has 178 strikeouts and 31 walks, as well as a 1.11 WHIP. Carrasco made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record in 2017, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

Cleveland’s pitching staff has yielded 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.37 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.0 K/9.

The Cleveland offense has produced 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .255/.318/.360 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley have led the charge for the Indians’ batters this year. Lindor is hitting .284/.360/.519 with 29 home runs, 78 RBIs, 110 runs and 22 stolen bases, and Brantley is hitting .305 with 14 homers, 70 RBIs and 75 runs.

In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.33 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.72, along with a WHIP of 1.18.

The Rays offense has slashed .256/.331/.396 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).

Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle. Duffy is hitting .297/.355/.372 with four home runs, 37 RBIs and 49 runs scored, while Wendle (.296/.345/.425) is up to seven homers, 48 RBIs, 47 runs and 12 stolen bases.

The Rays have gained 5.8 units and are 50-45 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over’s hit in 44 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.

Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER

Betting Notes

  • The under has hit in just two of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
  • The Rays have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.
  • Cleveland has posted 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.8 over its last five.