Cleveland Guardians vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

Cleveland comes into this AL matchup as the heavy favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -131, while the Rays are +110 on the money line. First pitch from Progressive Field is set for 6:10 PM ET, and the game will be televised on BSSUN.

The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and the Guardians will be looking to end a two-game losing streak, while the Rays have won two straight. Joey Cantillo is slated to start for Cleveland, and the Rays are starting Drew Rasmussen. Tampa Bay is 4th in the AL East, and the Guardians are 1st in the AL Central.

Tampa Bay vs. Cleveland Key Information

• Teams: Rays at Guardians
• Where: Progressive Field Cleveland
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds CLE -131 | TB +110 O/U 8.5

The Rays Can Win If…

Tampa Bay is sending right-hander Drew Rasmussen to the mound today as he faces the Cleveland Guardians on the road. Rasmussen has made 11 appearances this season and has a record of 0-1 with an ERA of 2.79. So far, he has made three starts and has a record of 0-1 in those outings. Rasmussen most recently pitched on September 11th out of the bullpen, where he took the loss, going 1 2/3 innings and giving up one earned run. He has not allowed a homer in his last three outings. Opponents are batting .219 off Rasmussen this season.

Yandy Diaz comes into today’s game with a five-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 9/21. For the season, he is batting .284 with a team-high 65 RBIs and is 4th on the team with 14 homers. Christopher Morel has struggled this season, batting just .198, but he does lead the team with 21 home runs. Brandon Lowe is 2nd on the team with 18 homers and is batting .244 for the season. Lowe has also gone 4/14 in his last five games, with two homers.

For the season, the Rays are averaging just 3.8 runs per game, which is 28th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and team batting average. As a team, they are batting just .231. Currently, the Rays have the 23rd OPS in the league and have the 23rd on-base percentage in the MLB.

• The Rays are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rays are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 3-6-1 in their last ten games.
• The Rays have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rays are 5-5
• Looking back across the Rays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Tampa Bay has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rays have averaged 2.9 runs per game on offense

For detailed daily recommendations, check out our MLB Picks

The Guardians Can Win If…

Through five starts, Joey Cantillo has a record of 1-3 and an ERA of 5.96. His WHIP for the season is currently 1.25. The last time he took the mound, Cantillo was excellent, going seven innings and giving up just one earned run. In that outing, he only allowed two hits and didn’t give up a homer. This season, Cantillo has allowed a total of six home runs. Per nine innings, he is averaging 8.77 strikeouts and 3.16 walks.

Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor have been a strong 1-2 punch in the Cleveland lineup this season, as they are the team’s top two home run hitters and are also the top two players in terms of RBIs. Ramirez’s 106 RBIs are 2nd in the league, and he is also 8th in the MLB with 34 homers. Naylor has 29 homers this season, which is 13th in the league. Ramirez is also batting .270 for the season, while Naylor’s batting average is at .242.

Lane Thomas has been swinging a hot bat for the Guardians, as he has gone 7/21 in his last five games, including one home run and nine RBIs. Austin Hedges and Bo Naylor have also homered in their last two and four games, respectively. Currently, Ramirez is on a six-game hitting streak, and Steven Kwan has a four-game streak.

• The Guardians are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Guardians are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Cleveland has an over/under record of 1-7-2 in their last ten games.
• The Guardians have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Guardians are 6-4
• Looking back across the Guardians last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Cleveland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Guardians have averaged 3.3 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For today’s Rays and Guardians matchup, we are leaning towards the Rays picking up the win on the road. We also like the over, as this is projected to be the 3rd highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has our 2nd highest total hits projection. Tampa Bay is 5th in our home run projections, and Drew Rasmussen has the 8th best odds to work deep into the game. On the other side, Joey Cantillo has the highest strikeout projection among today’s starters.

Joey Cantillo Looks to Keep Guardians’ Playoff Hopes Alive Against Rays

Joey Cantillo is riding a wave of momentum after his best start in the majors, and now he’s hoping to help the Cleveland Guardians snap their losing skid and keep their playoff hopes alive. As the Guardians face the Tampa Bay Rays in the third game of their four-game series on Saturday, Cantillo’s newfound confidence could be the spark Cleveland needs to turn things around.

Cantillo’s Breakout Moment

Cantillo (1-3, 5.96 ERA) didn’t have the smoothest start to his major league career, going winless in his first four outings. But last week, everything came together. He flirted with perfection, throwing 6 2/3 perfect innings against the Chicago White Sox. By the time he finished his seven innings, he had given up just two hits and one run, striking out 10 batters without walking a single one. Cleveland won that game 5-3, and Cantillo’s performance was the biggest reason why.

“It was so fun. That was special,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. For Cantillo, the outing was a confidence booster as he’s been adjusting to life in the big leagues after spending much of the season bouncing between the minors and the Guardians.

The key to his recent success? Cantillo says it’s all about refining his fastball and trusting his catcher. That trust and refinement could help him lock down a more permanent spot in the rotation as Cleveland eyes the playoffs.

Guardians’ Struggles Continue

Despite Cantillo’s stellar performance, the Guardians (84-64) have hit a rough patch, especially against the Rays. They’ve lost the first two games of this series and have only managed three runs on nine hits. Tampa Bay has been a thorn in their side all season, with Cleveland posting a 1-4 record and a dismal .174 batting average against them.

Key players like José Ramírez, who’s riding a six-game hitting streak, haven’t been able to break through against the Rays. Ramírez is hitting just .182 over his last 11 games against Tampa Bay. If Cleveland hopes to avoid losing this series at home, they’ll need Ramírez and the rest of the offense to wake up and start producing.

Rays Playing Spoiler

The Rays (73-75) may be out of playoff contention, but they’re not coasting to the finish line. After being swept by the Phillies, they bounced back with two wins over Cleveland. In Friday night’s 3-1 victory, Logan Driscoll hit his first career home run, while Jonathan Aranda stayed hot, extending his hitting streak to six games and batting .318 with two home runs over that stretch.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has been managing his pitching carefully, and Saturday’s starter Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 2.79 ERA) is expected to pitch in an opener’s role. Rasmussen, who’s coming off elbow surgery, has struggled against Cleveland in the past with a 9.64 ERA in three appearances. Still, the Rays are playing loose and competitive, with players like Josh Lowe highlighting how they’re pushing each other to finish the season strong.

Guardians’ Playoff Push

For Cleveland, every game counts. They’re trying to fend off challengers in the AL Central and secure a postseason spot, but this series against Tampa Bay hasn’t been kind to them. After sweeping the White Sox last week, they’ve stumbled and can’t afford to drop any more games if they want to hold onto their playoff position.

Cleveland’s pitching has been solid, but their offense desperately needs to get going. José Ramírez and the rest of the lineup have struggled, and with just three runs on nine hits over the first two games of this series, the Guardians will need to find their bats if they want to stay in the playoff race.

You can always refer to the current MLB Odds to stay up to date with the latest betting lines.

Key Storylines for Saturday’s Game

Cantillo’s Confidence: After a career-best performance, Joey Cantillo will look to keep the momentum going. His fastball command and ability to stay calm under pressure will be key if he hopes to help Cleveland break their losing streak.

Guardians’ Offensive Woes: Cleveland’s offense has been ice cold against the Rays. Key hitters like José Ramírez need to step up if the Guardians want to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Rays Playing Spoiler: Tampa Bay may not be heading to the playoffs, but they’re still playing with energy. Young players like Logan Driscoll and Jonathan Aranda are stepping up and making an impact as they look to close the season strong.

Pitching Duel: Drew Rasmussen will be on a limited pitch count for Tampa Bay, while Joey Cantillo looks to build on his breakout performance. This game could come down to which pitcher controls the opposing lineup better.

Conclusion

The Cleveland Guardians are in desperate need of a win to avoid their third straight loss and keep their playoff hopes alive. Joey Cantillo’s confidence is sky-high after his last start, and his performance could be the key to turning things around for Cleveland. But it won’t be easy—the Guardians’ offense has struggled all series, and they’ll need to break out if they want to stay competitive.

On the other side, the Rays are playing with nothing to lose and are eager to play spoiler. With contributions from young stars like Logan Driscoll and Jonathan Aranda, they’ve proven to be a tough matchup for Cleveland. Saturday’s game will be crucial for the Guardians’ postseason push, and Cantillo’s performance will be a big factor in whether they can stay in the race.