The Cleveland Guardians visit Tropicana Field on Saturday afternoon. The Guardians take on the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a weekend series between American League playoff contenders. The Guardians and Rays face off for the second time in a three-game set, and the pitching matchup is strong. Zach Plesac is scheduled to start for Cleveland, opposing Corey Kluber for Tampa Bay.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Tampa Bay as the -145 money-line favorite (risk $145 to win $100) for this 1:10 p.m. ET first pitch. The total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 7.5 in the latest Guardians vs. Rays odds. Before locking in any Rays vs. Guardians picks, you need to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, and it is 284-243 on top-rated MLB money-line picks since the start of the 2021 season, returning over $400 for $100 players. This is the same model that pegged the 2021 Atlanta Braves at 10-1 as one of three best bets to win it all last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rays vs. Guardians and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Guardians vs. Rays:
- Guardians vs. Rays money line: Rays -145, Guardians +122
- Guardians vs. Rays over-under: 7.5 runs
- Guardians vs. Rays run line: Rays -1.5 (+150)
- CLE: The Guardians are 24-23 in day games
- TB: The Rays are 21-18 in day games
- Guardians vs. Rays picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Guardians
Cleveland has the more productive overall offense in this matchup. The Guardians lead the American League in strikeout avoidance, and Cleveland is in the top five of the AL in hits, doubles, triples, batting average and stolen bases. Jose Ramirez is in the center of the attack, and the four-time All-Star leads the AL in doubles with a slugging percentage north of .500 this season. In contrast, the Rays are in the bottom five of the AL in strikeout avoidance, slugging percentage and OPS, leaving Cleveland's pitching staff in a confident position.
Plesac will start for the Guardians, and the 27-year-old is issuing only 2.4 walks per nine innings. Plesac has a 3.07 ERA in his last ten starts, and he is highly effective. Behind him, Cleveland's bullpen is above-average in ERA with more than a strikeout per inning. Guardians relievers are also No. 3 in the AL in ground ball rate at 46 percent.
Why you should back the Rays
Tampa Bay's offense is in a solid spot on Saturday. The Rays rank in the top five of the American League in doubles and stolen bases, with Tampa Bay also landing above the median in walks. While opposing pitcher Plesac is effective in the aggregate, he has struggled against Tampa Bay, posting a 6.17 ERA in his career. The Rays have an .875 OPS against Plesac, and there will be no intimidation. For Tampa Bay, the mound is a strength in this matchup as well behind Kluber.
The two-time Cy Young winner owns a 3.42 ERA at Tropicana Field in 2022 and a 1.14 WHIP overall. Command is at the forefront for Kluber with only 1.5 walks per nine innings, and he is limiting opponents to less than a home run per nine innings. Opposing hitters have a .692 OPS against Kluber, and he is backed by a bullpen that leads the AL in walk avoidance this season.
How to make Rays vs. Guardians picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 8.3 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the MLB model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Guardians vs. Rays? And which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of Guardians vs. Rays you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.
