Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians Game 2 Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians will meet for Game 2 of the Wild Card round Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:07 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio and can be viewed on ESPN2.  

TAMPA BAY RAYS vs. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS BETTING PREDICTION

Tampa Bay finds themselves down 0-1 after Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Guardians. The Rays offense could not get anything going with just three hits on the day. Their only run was a solo shot by centerfielder Jose Siri. Offensive production has been a problem as of late for the Rays who have scored just 24 runs over their last 10 games. Tampa’s bullpen looked solid Friday with just two pitchers used. Starter Shane McClanahan went seven innings while giving up two hits and two runs. Garrett Cleavinger came in for relief, allowing one hit and zero runs. Tampa’s bullpen has been performing all season with a team  ERA of 3.41 (4th). Right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 1.35 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday.

Cleveland managed to snap an eight-game postseason losing streak after Friday’s win over Tampa Bay. The offense had eight hits on the day with their two runs coming from a Jose Ramirez two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. That makes it the third straight meeting between these teams ending with a final score of 2-1. Starting pitcher Shane Bieber dominated on the mound Friday, going 7.2 innings while giving up just three hits and one run. The entire Guardians bullpen has remained consistent throughout the season with a team ERA of 3.46 (6th). The right-hander Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96 ERA) is expected to take the mound Saturday.  

I like the Guardians to wrap this series up on Saturday. McKenzie pitched well in his outing on September 28th against the Rays, giving up three hits and one run in 6.0 innings of work. Meanwhile Glasnow will make just his third start of the season as he has been recovering from Tommy John surgery. Expect another low scoring game and for Cleveland to take care of business.  

Score Prediction: Guardians 3, Rays 2 
Best Bet: Guardians ML (-115)

TAMPA BAY RAYS vs. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS BETTING ODDS

TAMPA BAY RAYS vs. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS BETTING RESOURCES

• Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
• Matchup: AL East vs. AL Central
• Venue: Progressive Field
• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Time-TV: 12:07 p.m. ET – ESPN2
• Expert Picks

TAMPA BAY RAYS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Rays enter this matchup 86-76 SU and 78-84 ATS. The total has gone under in five of their last six games. The total has also gone under in four of their last five when playing on the road against Cleveland. Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in their last five games against Cleveland and 0-5 SU in their last five road games. 

Tampa Bay's offense has struggled to get much going this season and have honestly been carried by the bullpen. As a team they have a batting average of .239 (17th), on base percentage of .309 (20th), slugging percentage of .377 (25th) and have scored 666 total runs (21st). The left fielder Randy Arozarena has been one of the Ray’s better hitters with a batting average of .263 (154-586), 20 home runs, and 89 RBIs. Third baseman Yandy Diaz has also played well with a batting average of .296 (140-473), nine home runs, and 57 RBIs.  

The Rays' bullpen is the main reason this team is in the postseason. As a team they are allowing opponents a batting average of .232 (8th), have a WHIP of 1.15 (4th), and team ERA of 3.41 (4th). The right-hander Glasnow is scheduled to start game-two of this series. Glasnow has stared just two games this season, most recently going three innings while giving up two hits and zero runs. He managed to hold up well after 64 pitches, but it should be interesting to see how he does in a playoff atmosphere. 

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS BETTING ANALYSIS

After Friday’s win the Guardians are now 92-70 SU and 87-75 ATS this season. The total has gone over in six of their last seven games and four of their last five at home. Going against this trend, the total has gone under in five of their last six when playing at home against the Rays. Cleveland is 14-3 SU in their last 17 games.  

Cleveland’s offense is no New York or Los Angeles, but they find ways to win. On the season they have a batting average of .254 (7th), on base percentage of .316 (12th), slugging percentage of .383 (21st) and have scored 698 total runs (15th). The third baseman Jose Ramirez has been great this season with a batting average of .280 (168-601), 29 home runs, and 126 RBIs. Second baseman Andres Gimenez has also been productive with a batting average of .297 (146-491), 17 home runs, and 69 RBIs.  

The Guardians bullpen has been solid throughout the season. As a team they are allowing opponents a batting average of .230 (6th), have a WHIP of 1.16 (5th), and team ERA of 3.46 (6th). Right-handed pitcher McKenzie is expected to start Saturday. McKenzie is 11-11 this season with an ERA of 2.96 and has given up 138 hits, 63 earned runs, and struck out 190 batters in 191.1 innings of work. McKenzie pitched well in his one outing against Tampa Bay this season, giving up three hits and one run in six innings. 

KEY PLAYERS

• TBR: Randy Arozarena - OF (Last Game: 0-4)
• TBR: Yandy Diaz - 3B (Last Game: 0-4)
• CLE: Jose Ramirez - 3B (Last Game: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
• CLE: Amed Rosario - SS (Last Game: 2-4, R)

PROBABLE PITCHERS

• TBR: Tyler Glasnow - RHP (-)
• CLE: Triston McKenzie - RHP (-)