Alex Colome (3-3, 4.50 ERA) and Carlos Carrasco (9-6, 4.16 ERA) take the hill in the third of a four-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays (42-37) and the Cleveland Indians (35-41) at Tropicana Field. The Indians won the last game 6-2 and Cleveland leads the series 2-0. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jul. 1 and can be seen on STO and SunSports.
Colome pitched 6.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering three runs, striking out two and walking five in a 4-3 defeat to the Red Sox. When pitching against the Rays, Carrasco is 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts. Jason Kipnis (.346, 52 Rs, 6 HRs, 33 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Cleveland is a slim -110 favorite over Tampa Bay. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of seven runs. The Rays have an overall money line of +492 and a record as the underdog of 21-17. Tampa Bay is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 57 bases. Turning to the pitchers, opposing offenses have been stifled by the Rays, who have a team ERA of only 3.31. The Rays are the fourth-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.19 so far this season.
In games where it is the favorite, Cleveland has a 22-27 record and an overall money line of -1,606. Offensively, the Indians have really sputtered in the last 10 games. They have decreased their season average of 4.0 runs per game by averaging 2.9 during that stretch. Cleveland is excellent at drawing walks with an AL-best 3.6 per game. Cleveland’s pitching staff is one of the top in the AL at pitching on the road, with a 3.54 ERA. When it comes to preventing batters from getting hits, the Indians are second in the AL on the road with an average of 7.5 hits allowed per away game. The Indians have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an AL-best 9.2 strikeouts per game.
The Indians lead the season series, 3-2. The Rays have a 27-28 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Carrasco takes the mound. Colome (RHP) will be on the hill against the Indians, who have a 23-23 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – TB, O/U – Over
Notes
The Rays are coming off of a hot pitching game where they recorded 11 strikeouts. The Indians have a record of 5-4 when they are struck out that many times or more.
It looks like the Indians have a slight leg up on the Rays, as the Indians have won their last two games while the Rays have lost their last three.
When they outhit their opponents, the Rays are 29-9. The Indians have a 28-6 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 25th in runs, Tampa Bay has earned 286 this season. Cleveland ranks 20th with 304 runs.
Ranking 19th, Tampa Bay is in the bottom half of the league in walks, notching 212 this season. Cleveland ranks in the top five at second with 275.
When the Rays hit at least one home run, they are 30-18, well-matched with the Indians who are 27-17 when hitting one or more homers.
