Cleveland (61-52) at Tampa Bay (59-58)
When: Saturday, August 12th 2017
Where: Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, FL
Time: 6:10 ET | TV: STO, FSN Sun
Opening Odds: Tampa Bay -134/8
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The fading Tampa Bay Rays look to get their offense going again when they host the Cleveland Indians in the third of a four-game set on Saturday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays started the month with three-straight wins over the AL-best Houston Astros on the road, but returned home to see the offense shut down. Tampa is 2-5 since returning from Houston following Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Indians and has been shut out four times during the homestand while scoring no more than four runs in any game. The Rays also surrendered their slim advantage over Seattle and Minnesota for the second and final wild-card spot in the AL, falling one-half game behind them. To make matters worse, the Rays lost 3B Evan Longoria in the sixth inning with a left thumb contusion and is questionable for Saturday. Edwin Encarnacion broke open a pitchers’ duel in a five-run fifth inning with a solo homer and Carlos Carrasco took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Friday as Cleveland halted a stretch in which it had lost four of five. Newcomer Jay Bruce went 2-for-4 in his first start since arriving in a trade Thursday from the New York Mets for the Indians, who still maintain a 3.5-game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis, who sat out on Friday, will test his hamstring injury prior to tonight’s contest.
Pitchers: Indians – Mike Clevinger (5-4, 4.00 ERA) | Rays – Chris Archer (8-6, 3.80)
Mike Clevinger, who had a terrific stretch between the middle of June and July, returns to the rotation after a brief spell in the bullpen. He will make his first start since July 31st in Boston. He was hit hard by the Red Sox in that one, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks over three innings in a loss. Clevinger began July by allowing a total of one earned run and eight hits over his first 18 innings before surrendering 10 earned runs and 16 hits across his final 7.1 innings of the month. He retired the only batter he faced on May 16th in his only career appearance versus the Rays.
DALLAS COWBOYS VS LOS ANGELES RAMS PREVIEW AND PICK
Chris Archer is coming off a no-decision on Sunday against Milwaukee despite allowing only a solo home run among the three hits he gave up in six innings of work. It was his 15th straight outing in which Archer was able to go six innings and the 11th time over that stretch he recorded a quality start. Encarnacion is 8-for-50 with three homers versus Archer, who took the loss in Cleveland on May 15th after getting hit for six earned runs over five innings.
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Clevinger has been awful over the last month and he might just be what the Rays need right now. I’m predicting the Rays bats to finally break-out here and for Cleveland to have success against Archer, who hasn’t pitched all that well lately. He was good in his last outing, but that was against a Brewers team that is struggling. I’ll take the over.
Pick: Over 8 +100
- Indians are 8-2 in their last 10 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 10-3 in their last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 9-3 in their last 12 games following a win.
- Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 during game 3 of a series.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 1-6 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Indians are 4-0 in Clevinger’s last 4 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 5-1 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Indians are 3-7 in Clevinger’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 1-4 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Indians are 1-5 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Rays are 5-11 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 games on astroturf.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Rays are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 home starts.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 starts on astroturf.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rays are 4-1 in Archer’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 6-2 in Archer’s last 8 starts vs. American League Central.
- Rays are 5-2 in Archer’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 12-5 in Archer’s last 17 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Rays are 5-13 in Archer’s last 18 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Rays are 3-8 in Archer’s last 11 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 7-19 in Archer’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Indians last 4 overall.
- Under is 15-3 in Indians last 18 on astroturf.
- Under is 5-1 in Indians last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 13-3-1 in Indians last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Indians last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Indians last 6 vs. American League East.
- Under is 13-4-1 in Indians last 18 Saturday games.
- Under is 19-7-3 in Indians last 29 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 37-14-6 in Indians last 57 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 27-11-5 in Indians last 43 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 36-15-5 in Indians last 56 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 44-21-6 in Indians last 71 games following a win.
- Under is 6-0 in Clevinger’s last 6 Saturday starts.
- Under is 12-1 in Clevinger’s last 13 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 5-1 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Clevinger’s last 5 road starts.
- Under is 4-1 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 15-5 in Clevinger’s last 20 starts overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Clevinger’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 3-0-2 in Rays last 5 Saturday games.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Rays last 4 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Rays last 4 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 7-1 in Rays last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-1 in Rays last 8 on astroturf.
- Under is 7-1 in Rays last 8 home games.
- Under is 6-1 in Rays last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Rays last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Rays last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Rays last 10 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Rays last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 21-7-1 in Rays last 29 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Rays last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 14-5-1 in Rays last 20 games following a loss.
- Under is 18-7-2 in Rays last 27 overall.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Rays last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Archer’s last 4 Saturday starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Archer’s last 4 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 6-1 in Archer’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 11-3 in Archer’s last 14 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 8-3 in Archer’s last 11 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Archer’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Archer’s last 14 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Tampa Bay.
- Indians are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Tampa Bay.
- Indians are 12-4 in the last 16 meetings.
- Rays are 0-6 in Archer’s last 6 starts vs. Indians.
