The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays meet Monday in MLB playoff action at Tropicana Field. Here’s a Rays vs. Guardians Prediction. This article will include a Rays vs. Guardians Pick.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
The Cleveland Guardians beat the White Sox in 5 games and will play for the first time since Saturday. The Guardians have won 12 of their last 16 games. The Cleveland Guardians are batting .213 in these playoffs, have a .330 OBP, and a .350 slugging percentage. The Cleveland Guardians pitching staff has a 3.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Jose Ramirez leads the Cleveland Guardians with 5 hits and 7 RBI, while Patrick Bailey and Chase DeLauter have combined for 10 hits and 4 RBI.
Foster Griffin gets the ball for the Cleveland Guardians, and he is 15-6 with a 3.60 ERA and 158 strikeouts this season. This will be Griffin’s second career game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Griffin is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 7 strikeouts in his postseason career.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays swept the Yankees and will play for the first time since Wednesday. The Rays have won 14 of their last 19 games. The Tampa Bay Rays are batting .208 on the season, have a .255 OBP, and have a .344 slugging percentage. The Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching staff has a 1.67 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. Jonathan Aranda leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 4 hits and 2 RBI, while Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero have combined for 6 hits and 0 RBI.
Drew Rasmussen gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA and 174 strikeouts this season. Rasmussen is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 29 strikeouts in his career against the Cleveland Guardians. Rasmussen is 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 15 strikeouts in his postseason career.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Guardians have lost each of their last seven playoff games following a home win.
- The Rays have won 10 of their last 11 home games.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six playoff games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
- The favorites have covered the run line in five of the Guardians’ last six games at Tropicana Field.
- The Guardians have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games at Tropicana Field.
- The Guardians have lost the first inning in three of their last four road games.
- The Guardians have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four road playoff games against AL East opponents.
Why the Cleveland Guardians will win
- The Rays have lost four of their last five playoff games as favorites.
- The Guardians have won nine of their last 10 night games against AL opponents.
- The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last 11 road games.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five playoff games as favorites.
- The Guardians have led after 3 innings in each of their last five Monday night games as underdogs.
- The Guardians have led after 5 innings in eight of their last 10 night games.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the last eight games between the Guardians and Rays have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Guardians’ last five road games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the last nine games between the Guardians and Rays.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Guardians’ last six games at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Jonathan Aranda has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with the Rays as favorites.
- Drew Rasmussen has recorded a win in seven of his last eight appearances with the Rays as favorites against AL opponents.
- Drew Rasmussen has recorded six or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jonathan Aranda has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 home appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Drew Rasmussen ranks T3rd in the league for Wins (16) this season.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in each of the Guardians’ last two games.
- Foster Griffin has recorded four or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight appearances.
- Nathaniel Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances against the Rays.
- Foster Griffin ranks T6th in the league for Wins (15) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (1145).
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for walks allowed this season (409).
- The Guardians rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts this season (1530).
- The Guardians rank 27th in the league for home runs this season (162).
Rays vs Guardians Prediction
The Guardians are jumping right back into a series, and it’s asking a lot after an emotional comeback. Griffin did his job in 2.2 innings against the White Sox, but let’s not forget September, when he allowed 30 hits and 14 runs in 18.1 innings. The Rays have not only been consistent all season, but they’ve been insane at home. Rasmussen has allowed 17 hits and 3 runs in his last 33.2 innings. The Rays haven’t lost with Rasmussen on the mound since July 9, winning each of his last 13 starts. Throw in a rested bullpen that hasn’t played in five days. Give me the Rays, and I’ll lay the RL to shave down the price.