The ALCS resumes Tuesday night with Game 2 in Tampa Bay, as the Guardians and Rays meet at Tropicana Field before the series shifts to Cleveland.
With Cleveland’s series-opening win behind them, Parker Messick and Freddy Peralta are expected to take the mound.
Much was said about Tampa Bay getting extra rest entering the series, a distinct advantage that could easily play out on the field in this one.
Guardians vs. Rays prediction, best bets
Messick is 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two appearances against the Rays this season.
His loss was a close 1-0 decision; the All-Star struck out six while allowing six hits and one run over 7.2 innings. Overall, he finished the regular season with a scorching 2.56 ERA, third-best in the American League behind Cam Schlittler and Dylan Cease.
Cleveland picked up back-to-back wins in Chicago to in the ALDS, but the Rays aren’t the White Sox, and this presents a slightly different challenge. As enticing as their underdog status can be, the reality is this will be the Guardians’ fifth game in six days.
Peralta is only 1-2 in four career appearances against the Guardians, with a 4.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts, but Tampa’s bullpen looks more complete and up to the task.
The Guardians must also be prepared to face Bryan Baker, Ian Seymour, and Cam Booser.
Entering the series, the Rays were 45-20 against the spread as home favorites in the regular season. The only flaw in their batting lineup was their performance against left-handed pitchers, where they ranked poorly, 25th league-wide with a .248 team batting average and .679 OPS.
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Messick, a southpaw, should keep things in check early, but I expect the Rays’ better bullpen to decide things late and give Tampa Bay a win.
The Plays: Under 3.5 runs in first five innings (+100, FanDuel Sportsbook) | Rays moneyline (-132, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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