MLB Betting Series Preview : Cleveland Indians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Wagering: 1.888.238.8018 - 1.888.889.4313
Customer Service: 1.877.717.7747 - 1.888.889.4368

: 1.888.238.8198 - 1.888.889.4312
: 1.888.378.0888 - 1.888.889.4219

MLB Betting Series Preview : Cleveland Indians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

In the battle of two teams that are trying to prove the slow start was not a fluke, the Cleveland Indians will do battle with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Indians are still going strong after a fast start, but the rays are starting to flounder.

Now they're a more familiar, less adorable team that's all entitled and stuff -- the teenager of surprise teams. After a horrific start, the Rays have slipped back in the AL East race, losing five of six. Lost in the Sam Fuld mania of of the early season (he now has a 74 OPS+) was the fast start by Matthew Joyce, who is hitting like Jose Bautista before he morphed into Jose M.F. Bautista.

Joyce isn't the most surprising player on the team, though. Casey Kotchman is hitting well. Sure, his BABiP is about .100 points over his career average, so it's likely that he'll return to orbit, but Casey Kotchman is hitting well. Add to this that Brandon Wood is starting for the Pirates and Dallas McPherson is in the majors with the White Sox while Howie Kendrick is on the DL, and it's like season six of a crappy MTV reality show: Angels in the Infield.

While the Indians are the new surprise team -- we're still making stupid faces at them and everything -- they've had quite a bit go wrong for a team on a roll. Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Alex White, and Mitch Talbot have all been injured, and the Indians have missed or should miss all of them.

Carlos Carrasco starts on Saturday, and he's been pretty shaky following the promise of seven good starts last year. Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin aren't going to pitch like Cy Young contenders all year, so a productive Carrasco is probably the in-house reinforcement that Cleveland is hoping for.

Friday - Josh Tomlin vs. David Price

Saturday - Carlos Carrasco vs. James Shields

Sunday - Justin Masterson vs. Jeremy Hellickson

The Indians may be playing better baseball, but the Rays have the pitching edge in this matchup. Look for the rays to win two of three and could possible sweep the tribe.

MLB Series Bet: Tampa Bay Rays