Odds, Picks and Predictions
- The Tampa Bay Rays are 75-79 against the run line this season.
- The Cleveland Guardians are 82-72 against the run line this year.
- The Rays are 38-35 against the run line when playing on the road.
- The Guardians are 34-39 against the run line when playing at their home field.
- Tampa Bay is 35-18 against the run line as an underdog.
- Cleveland is 37-39 against the run line as a favorite.
The Tampa Bay Rays (85-69) will take on the Cleveland Guardians (86-68) in a Wednesday evening affair.
The Rays took Game 1 of this series in extra innings. However, Cleveland has already clinched the AL Central, so the loss did not hurt them too badly. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is aiming to clinch a Wild Card spot.
Nevertheless, the Guardians aren’t going to roll over. They want to continue winning games in order to carry momentum into the playoffs. But Tampa Bay’s motivation may provide them with a slight advantage.
Tuesday was an exciting game in this potential playoff preview. We can expect Wednesday to be the same.
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM EST on Wednesday, September 28, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.
Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +105 | O/6.5 | +1.5 |
| Cleveland Guardians | -115 | U/6.5 | -1.5 |
The Guardians are still the favorites despite dropping Game 1 at home. Cleveland is a talented ball club that has played well over the past couple of weeks. Their home-field advantage ultimately pushes them over the top from an odds perspective.
It goes without saying, but the Rays feature plenty of upset potential. Wednesday’s game should be a competitive contest between Tampa Bay and Cleveland.
But can the Guardians cover the odds at home? Let’s take a closer look at the game.
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Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
The Rays have now won three of their last four games. They have previously split a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.
Tampa Bay would have loved to at least win three out of four against Toronto, given their AL Wild race. But the split certainly was not the worst thing that could have happened.
Tampa Bay doesn’t feature much in the way of star power. But they rely on analytics and find ways to win games. Despite not receiving much attention this season, they have been one of the better teams in the league.
Tampa Bay ranks 15th in batting average, 19th in OBP, 23rd in slugging percentage, 20th in runs scored and 25th in home runs. Pitching-wise, they are fourth in team ERA, fourth in WHIP, 16th in home runs allowed, and fifth in batting average against.
The Rays’ pitching has stolen the show in 2022. Pitchers such as Shane McClanahan have stepped up and led the charge for Tampa Bay. And on Wednesday, they are going to get even better.
Tyler Glasnow, who underwent Tommy John surgery a season ago, is set to return to Tampa Bay and pitch for the Rays.
Glasnow likely won’t work past the third inning unless his pitch count is extremely low. But the fact that he’s even on the mound at all will excite both the team and fans.
Cleveland Guardians Preview
The Guardians are now 8-2 over the course of their last ten games. They heated up at the right time and clinched the AL Central following their Sunday victory over the Texas Rangers.
Cleveland is the youngest team in baseball but are also one of the most entertaining teams to watch. They don’t take a single playoff and constantly force defensives to work hard. Their lineup is amongst the most difficult to strikeout in baseball.
The underlying stats don’t scream “World Series contender.” However, you can’t trust purely in stats with this team. Their consistent hustle and grit leads to a number of their victories.
With that being said, their stats aren’t bad by any means. Offensively, the Guardians rank eighth in batting average, 14th in OBP, 22nd in slugging percentage, 29th in home runs, and 16th in runs scored.
They manufacture runs and don’t hit the ball out of the yard all that often.
On the pitching side of the equation, they are sixth in team ERA, fifth in WHIP, 14th in home runs surrendered, and seventh in batting average against.
Cleveland has always been known for their pitching. Their rotation has been solid, and the bullpen has been excellent in 2022.
Cleveland will send breakout star Triston McKenzie (11-11, 3.04) to the mound on Wednesday. McKenzie is one of the best pitchers in baseball when he’s on his game. He loses command of the zone from time to time, but he’s found much more consistency this year.
Injury Report
As discussed earlier, Tyler Glasnow will finally make his 2022 debut on Wednesday after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The rays are ecstatic to get him back just in time for the playoffs.
Ryan Yarbrough and Nick Anderson were recently placed on the IL. It was also recently announced that Brandon Lowe will not return this season. Injuries have played a big role for the Rays this year.
For Cleveland, Zach Plesac has been rehabbing and could return to the Guardians sometime this week. Friday has been mentioned as a potential return date, but nothing is set in stone.
Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions
Which team should you place your money on in this contest?
The Guardians hold a pitching advantage given McKenzie’s strong season. Glasnow is a star, but it will be difficult to predict how his debut will go. Even if he excels, he likely won’t work much more than three innings.
Triston McKenzie shouldn’t face too much trouble against the Rays lineup, and the Guardians’ offense will take care of the rest.
The Pick:
Go ahead and take the Cleveland Guardians -1.5 in this Wednesday evening American League affair.
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