The Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays begin a four game series tonight at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Indians, who have lost five of their last seven games, just completed a six game home stand. Tampa Bay is coming off a seven game road swing in which they went 4-3. First pitch is scheduled for 7:08pm ET.
Cleveland Indians vs Tampa Bay Rays MLB Predictions at Sportsbook.com have the Rays listed as a -159 money line favorite. The game total is set at nine with the under being favored at -115 odds.
The Indians, who lost four of six on their recent home stand, moved to 13-22 yesterday by beating the White Sox 4-0. Cliff Lee turned in a remarkable performance, giving up six hits and zero earned runs over seven innings. Lee walked just one and struck out nine.
Tonight Eric Wedge will count on the beleaguered Fausto Carmona to give the Indians their seventh road win of the season (Cleveland is currently just 6-11 away from Progressive Field). Carmona is having another difficult year for the Tribe, sitting at 1-4 after seven starts. The 25 year old Dominican native has allowed 43 hits and 26 earned runs in 42 innings pitched and he has walked almost as many batters as he has struck out (23 to 25).
Carmona lost his last start 0-4 against the Tigers but, other than walking six batters, had a decent outing. He gave up four hits and two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work.
Cleveland is just 2-5 in Carmona's seven 2009 starts.
The Rays will begin their eight game stint at the Trop with staff ace James Shields on the hill. Shields has not quite been himself this season, sporting a 4.02 ERA and a 3-3 record after seven starts. However, he has walked just 14 while striking out 30.
Shields will be looking to recover from a horrendous showing in his last start, a 3-7 loss at Fenway Park in Boston. The 27 year old gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in six innings.
Tampa Bay is presently in fourth place in the American League East with a 16-19 record. They are 6.5 games back of the first place Toronto Blue Jays.
Sportsbook.com Cleveland Indians vs Tampa Bay Rays MLB Predictions:
Cleveland Indians +1.5 (-140), Over 9 (-105), +149 (Moneyline)
Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+120), Under 9 (-115), -159 (Moneyline)
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