Tampa Bay (31-37) at Cleveland (39-30)
When: Wednesday, June 22nd 2016
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: FSN Sun, SportsTime Ohio
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The Cleveland Indians look to stay hot and sweep the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night in the final game of a three-game set. Cleveland has won six games in a row overall and 11 straight at home after last night’s 6-0 victory over Tampa. Juan Uribe homered in his fourth consecutive contest as the Indians increased their lead in the American League Central to two games over Kansas City. Uribe is 7-for-17 with seven RBIs in his last four games after recording just two homers in his previous 48 games. Jason Kipnis had an RBI single to increase his hitting streak to five games and is now batting .333 in his career versus Tampa Bay. Evan Longoria has hit safely in four straight contests and eight of his last nine for the reeling Rays, who have dropped six in a row to drop into last place of the AL East. Longoria has five hits – including two homers – and four RBIs in five games versus Cleveland this season. The injured-riddled Rays have placed eight players on the disabled list in the last 37 days after having zero on the DL in the first 40 days of the season. Tampa Bay 1B Logan Morrison is 0-for-11 in his last three games and 3-for-32 in his last eight. Cleveland C Yan Gomes is 6-for-16 with a pair of doubles and four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
Pitchers: Rays – Chris Archer (4-9, 4.60 ERA) | Indians – Trevor Bauer (4-2, 3.46)
Chris Archer takes the mound for Tampa looking to turn things around himself and get the Rays back into the win column. Archer suffered his second straight loss and fifth in six outings on Friday, as he allowed four runs on six hits in as many innings of a 5-1 setback to San Francisco. A fifth-round draft pick of the Indians, Archer looks to end his troubles versus the club as he fell to 0-4 in his career despite yielding two earned runs in 5.1 innings of a 6-0 loss on April 14th.
Trevor Bauer is just 1-0 in his last five starts despite allowing just 10 earned runs and striking out 32 in 35.2 innings of work. He threw a season-high 115 pitches against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, but walked away with a no-decision despite allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. Bauer faced the Rays out of the bullpen on April 14th, striking out the side in one inning of work.
This is a case where I have to go with the hot team against a cold team with a very generous line. Cleveland is a small favorite at home with a better pitching matchup and a better offense. Take the Tribe.
Pick: Indians -120
