Erasmo Ramirez (6-2, 4.23 ERA) and Danny Salazar (6-3, 4.06 ERA) are on the hill in the second of a four-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays (42-36) and the Cleveland Indians (34-41) at Tropicana Field. The Indians won the last game 7-1 and Cleveland leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jun. 30 and can be seen on STO and SunSports.
Ramirez pitched 3.0 innings in his last outing, surrendering zero runs and striking out three in a 4-1 defeat to the Indians. Salazar went 4.1 innings, surrendering six runs (one unearned), striking out eight and walking three in a 7-3 defeat to the Tigers in his most recent start. Jason Kipnis (.348, 51 Rs, 5 HRs, 32 RBIs, 10 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Indians, going 3 for 4 yesterday with two runs and one RBI.
Tampa Bay is a slim -108 favorite at home against Cleveland. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently seven runs. The Rays have an overall money line of +611 and a record as the favorite of 21-18. Tampa Bay is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 57 bases. Crossing over to the pitching staff, opposing offenses have been stifled by the Rays, who have a team ERA of only 3.27. The Rays are the third-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.20 so far this season.
In games where it is the underdog, Cleveland has a 11-14 record and an overall money line of -1,715. They have been on a bit of a dry streak over their last 10 games. They managed a 0-3 record when playing as the underdog. Offensively, the Indians have really sputtered in the last 10 games. They have decreased their season average of 3.9 runs per game by averaging 2.6 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 3.61 ERA. When it comes to preventing batters from getting hits, the Indians are second in the AL on the road with an average of 7.6 hits allowed per away game. The Indians have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an AL-best 9.3 strikeouts per game.
The Rays have a 27-27 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Salazar takes the mound. Ramirez (RHP) will be on the hill against the Indians, who have a 22-23 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – TB, O/U – Over
Notes
Having scored one run in their last game, the Rays are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Indians have a 12-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Indians are 6-30. The Rays have a 7-23 record when opponents outhit them.
Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league at 22nd when it comes to home runs, hitting 62 this season. Tampa Bay ranks in the top half at 13th with 71.
Ranking 11th, Tampa Bay is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.22 per game. Cleveland ranks in the top 10 at ninth with 8.45.
Ranking 19th, Tampa Bay is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.694). Cleveland ranks in the top half at 15th with an OPS of .716.
The Indians are 23-33 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Rays are 17-26 when they allow at least one homer.
