The Cleveland Guardians (57-36) seek to bounce back in Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays (47-47) at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Saturday, July 13th at 4:10 PM ET. The market has this showdown as a toss-up, with both teams having a moneyline at -110.
The Guardians have lost four out of their last five road games and need to find any edge to break the losing cycle. Their latest defeat was a 2-0 shutout in Game 1, which shows how consistently bad their offense has been.
Their defense has had issues alongside their sluggish offense. They will start Gavin Williams (0-1) on the mound, who has an ERA of 4.82 and a WHIP of 1.50 through 9.1 innings pitched.
They need a bright start to the game offensively if they want any shot at breaking open this losing streak. Jose Ramirez is an excellent example of this, as he leads with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs.
The Guardians are averaging .244 at the plate while allowing their opponents to put up .234 in return. Compared to the Rays, this is where they have their best chance to win on paper if these averages hold.
The Rays have won their last two games and two out of three against the New York Yankees, who are aiming for the top spot in the AL East. The Rays need more wins, as they sit fourth in the AL East.
Their starting pitcher will be Zack Littell (3-6), who averages an ERA of 4.44 and has a WHIP of 1.37. Their team ERA needs to improve if they want to win, as it currently sits at 4.26 consistently.
Isaac Paredes should offer a great game offensively, as he leads them with 15 homers and 50 RBIs. In addition, Yandy Diaz leads them with a .276 batting average, so look for the two to help drive their offense.
The Rays put up a .236 batting average but also gave up .246 in return on the defensive end. This will need to change if they want to continue their success.
MyBookie offers the odds for the upcoming MLB showdown, with both teams favored to have a shot at winning. However, market insights show that the Guardians have a 56.8 percent chance of success.
Both teams have struggled and are meeting at an exciting time of the year. The Guardians desperately need wins, but the Rays must also find consistency to make the playoffs this season. Look for the Rays to snag another crucial home win.
