jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Tampa Bay/Cleveland over 4.5 -110:
The second place Rays (30-19) in the AL East took a 2 games to 1 lead in this 4 game set against Cleveland (26-25) with a 6-2 victory last night at Progressive Field after a near 3 hour rain delay. Ji-Man Choi and Tommy Pham each hit two-run homers and Brandon Lowe added a solo shot for Tampa Bay, which is in the midst of playing 34 games in 34 days through June 23rd. Charlie Morton improved to 5-0 overall allowing just a run on 3 hits walking 2 and striking out 10. Morton hasn't lost since last early August when he was a member of Houston. Carlos Carrasco weathered a rough Rays storm through 6 1/3 giving up 5 ER on 9 hits walking one and striking out 6 falling to 4-5. Carlos Santana provided a solo HR for the Tribe, and Leonys Martin went 2 for 4 with an RBI single for the only Indians offense. Cleveland fell a full 9 games behind AL Central leading Minnesota, who whipped the White Sox 8-1 earlier in the afternoon at Target Field. Cleveland gets an opportunity for the split this afternoon.
The Indians hand the ball to Trevor Bauer (4-3 3.95) who is winless in nearly a month and has gotten lit up over his last 2 starts coughing up 11 ER on 9 hits over 11 IP (9.00) with 8 walks and 8 strikeouts. He faces a Rays lineup batting just .255 collectively thus far averaging 4.5 runs per contest while 9th in the AL with 65 HR. Brandon Lowe (.287 11 30) leads TB in power and production including 3 HR this past week in his last 7 games. Austin Meadows (.320 9 24) leads the team in batting although not qualifying for the maximum amount of at-bats. Meadows at the DH spot has slowed down over the last week or so going just 6 for his last 31 (.194). Pham (.290 8 24) extended his hitting streak to 11 games yesterday (.311), with only 2 multi-hit contests over that stretch. Avisail Garcia (.285 9 22) has hit safely in his last 5 games (.333). and Yandi Diaz (.256 9 22) closes out the overall balance in this TB lineup. While the Rays aren't over powering when it comes to offense, their hitting is timely enough to support their successful rotation.
The Rays counter with their dependable opener, Ryne Stanek (0-1 3.38) who is making his 22nd appearance and 14th 'start'. The 27 year old third year righty usually does not go more than an inning or two, but turning it over to the Rays middle relief has been efficient in giving their normal rotation it's needed rest. Atanek only pitched 2/3 of an inning in the opener of this series and faces an Indians lineup with offensive efficiency being the main issue of their underwhelming start. Their .221 overall average is next to last in the AL only ahead of Toronto, and are scoring only 3.8 runs per contest and only 53 HR. With nobody at .300 on the active roster, Santana (.287 9 29) is tops on the club in batting, power and production. The 33 year old first baseman is in his 10th season and is hitting .318 over his last 7 games. Francisco Lindor (.278 7 15) has not made the most of his opportunities and was out an extended period of time due to ankle and calf injuries. Tyler Naquin (.278 1 10) should begin to see more action after Carlos Gonzalez was DFA'd earlier this week. Jordan Luplow (.247 6 11) isn't protected in the lineup and is going through a 4 for 24 stretch (.167). Martin (.227 6 13) has also struggled this season missing significant time with a hamstring injury.
We get a reasonable price this afternoon at a venue much more fitted for the pitchers though the ball does carry fairly well at Progressive in day ball. Temps are forecast to be in the mid 70's today with variable moderate winds but there is a chance for rain later in the day. Bauer has not been at his most efficient after a strong start to the campaign, so the Rays lineup should be able to take advantage. Cleveland on the other hand, could limit Stanek's output if they can get to him early, and getting into their long relief could pay off dividends though multiple players have either underachieved and the rest of the roster has been decimated by injuries. We hope to extend our run to 3 games this afternoon after some tough luck yesterday as the White Sox and Twins squandered scoring opportunities yesterday for a push. Best of luck however you play!
The second place Rays (30-19) in the AL East took a 2 games to 1 lead in this 4 game set against Cleveland (26-25) with a 6-2 victory last night at Progressive Field after a near 3 hour rain delay. Ji-Man Choi and Tommy Pham each hit two-run homers and Brandon Lowe added a solo shot for Tampa Bay, which is in the midst of playing 34 games in 34 days through June 23rd. Charlie Morton improved to 5-0 overall allowing just a run on 3 hits walking 2 and striking out 10. Morton hasn't lost since last early August when he was a member of Houston. Carlos Carrasco weathered a rough Rays storm through 6 1/3 giving up 5 ER on 9 hits walking one and striking out 6 falling to 4-5. Carlos Santana provided a solo HR for the Tribe, and Leonys Martin went 2 for 4 with an RBI single for the only Indians offense. Cleveland fell a full 9 games behind AL Central leading Minnesota, who whipped the White Sox 8-1 earlier in the afternoon at Target Field. Cleveland gets an opportunity for the split this afternoon.
The Indians hand the ball to Trevor Bauer (4-3 3.95) who is winless in nearly a month and has gotten lit up over his last 2 starts coughing up 11 ER on 9 hits over 11 IP (9.00) with 8 walks and 8 strikeouts. He faces a Rays lineup batting just .255 collectively thus far averaging 4.5 runs per contest while 9th in the AL with 65 HR. Brandon Lowe (.287 11 30) leads TB in power and production including 3 HR this past week in his last 7 games. Austin Meadows (.320 9 24) leads the team in batting although not qualifying for the maximum amount of at-bats. Meadows at the DH spot has slowed down over the last week or so going just 6 for his last 31 (.194). Pham (.290 8 24) extended his hitting streak to 11 games yesterday (.311), with only 2 multi-hit contests over that stretch. Avisail Garcia (.285 9 22) has hit safely in his last 5 games (.333). and Yandi Diaz (.256 9 22) closes out the overall balance in this TB lineup. While the Rays aren't over powering when it comes to offense, their hitting is timely enough to support their successful rotation.
The Rays counter with their dependable opener, Ryne Stanek (0-1 3.38) who is making his 22nd appearance and 14th 'start'. The 27 year old third year righty usually does not go more than an inning or two, but turning it over to the Rays middle relief has been efficient in giving their normal rotation it's needed rest. Atanek only pitched 2/3 of an inning in the opener of this series and faces an Indians lineup with offensive efficiency being the main issue of their underwhelming start. Their .221 overall average is next to last in the AL only ahead of Toronto, and are scoring only 3.8 runs per contest and only 53 HR. With nobody at .300 on the active roster, Santana (.287 9 29) is tops on the club in batting, power and production. The 33 year old first baseman is in his 10th season and is hitting .318 over his last 7 games. Francisco Lindor (.278 7 15) has not made the most of his opportunities and was out an extended period of time due to ankle and calf injuries. Tyler Naquin (.278 1 10) should begin to see more action after Carlos Gonzalez was DFA'd earlier this week. Jordan Luplow (.247 6 11) isn't protected in the lineup and is going through a 4 for 24 stretch (.167). Martin (.227 6 13) has also struggled this season missing significant time with a hamstring injury.
We get a reasonable price this afternoon at a venue much more fitted for the pitchers though the ball does carry fairly well at Progressive in day ball. Temps are forecast to be in the mid 70's today with variable moderate winds but there is a chance for rain later in the day. Bauer has not been at his most efficient after a strong start to the campaign, so the Rays lineup should be able to take advantage. Cleveland on the other hand, could limit Stanek's output if they can get to him early, and getting into their long relief could pay off dividends though multiple players have either underachieved and the rest of the roster has been decimated by injuries. We hope to extend our run to 3 games this afternoon after some tough luck yesterday as the White Sox and Twins squandered scoring opportunities yesterday for a push. Best of luck however you play!