The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays clash Friday in game 1 of an MLB series at Tropicana Field. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview

The Guardians need a win after losing 7 of their last 10 games. The Guardians are now 3.5 games back in the AL Central. The Guardians pitching staff is 3rd in ERA (3.77), 13th in WHIP (1.27) and 12th in quality starts (42). The Guardians’ offense is 27th in runs per game (3.99), 18th in batting average (.248) and 30th in homers (84). Steven Kwan leads the Guardians with 123 hits and 38 RBI, while Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor have combined for 233 hits and 144 RBI. Xzavion Curry gets the ball, and he is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 45 strikeouts this season. This will be Curry’s first career game against the Rays.

Cleveland Guardians Team Facts

• The Guardians have lost each of their last six road games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four road games against the Rays following a win.
• The Guardians have led after 5 innings in six of their last nine games as road underdogs.
• The Guardians have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last four road night games.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last four road games.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in three of the Guardians’ last four Friday games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Andres Gimenez has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Guardians’ last five road games against AL East opponents.
• Jose Ramirez has scored at least one run in five of the Guardians’ last six road games against AL East opponents.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded two or more total bases in seven of his last nine road appearances against the Rays after playing the previous day.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last nine road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Rays look for a win after splitting their last 8 games. The Rays are 3 games behind the Orioles in the AL East. The Rays pitching staff is 4th in ERA (3.80), 2nd in WHIP (1.19) and 18th in quality starts (37). The Rays’ offense is 4th in runs per game (5.15), 10th in batting average (.255) and 4th in homers (170). Wander Franco leads the Rays with 121 hits and 55 RBI, while Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena have combined for 221 hits and 122 RBI. Aaron Civale gets the ball, and he is 5-4 with a 2.55 ERA and 62 strikeouts this season. This will be Civale’s first career game against the Guardians.

Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts

• The Rays have lost each of their last five games as home favorites after playing the previous day.
• The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last six night games against AL Central opponents following a home loss.
• The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games as home favorites.
• The Rays have trailed after 7 innings in three of their last four games as home favorites.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last seven night games at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Jose Siri has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four night games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six appearances with the Rays as favorites against AL opponents.
• Wander Franco has scored a run in eight of the Rays’ last nine night games.
• Aaron Civale has recorded five or more strikeouts in 10 of his last 11 appearances with his team as a home favorite against AL Central opponents.
• Josh Lowe has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
• Randy Arozarena has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 10 night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Wander Franco ranks T5th in the league in Steals (29) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for opponent batting average this season (.230).
• The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for runs allowed this season (459).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 30th in the league for home runs this season (84).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (803).

Randy’s Pick

The Rays are the better team and should be given the benefit of the doubt, especially at home and with Aaron Civale on the mound. However, the Guardians aren’t a pushover, they’re better than what they’ve played like lately, and we’re getting almost 2 times our money with Xzavion Curry on the hill. Curry has a 2.95 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through 64 innings. Curry went 5 innings in his last start, and he’s allowed 5 earned runs in his last 21.1 innings. Give me the road dog, as this line is disrespectful toward the Guardians.