Thursday, April 14, 2016

Tropicana Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Danny Salazar vs. Chris Archer

The Cleveland Indians visit Tropicana Field on Thursday to play the Tampa Bay Rays. The probable starters are Danny Salazar for the Indians and Chris Archer for the Rays. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland at +120 and Tampa Bay at -130. The over/under was set at 7. The Indians have a 3-1-1 over/under record and a 1-4-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 20% of the time. The Rays are 2-5-0 against the run line and have a 1-4-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 29% of the time.

The Indians head into this matchup with a 2-3 record, including 1-2 on the road. Starting pitcher Danny Salazar has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 1.69 and a WHIP of 0.94. He has 7 strikeouts over his 5.1 innings pitched and he has given up 2 hits so far this season. He has allowed 3.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.33. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 7.24 and they have given up 11 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .224 against the bullpen while being struck out 9 times and walking 9 times this season. As a team, Cleveland has allowed 8.16 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.12 batters per nine. They are 23rd in the league in team earned run average at 5.23. The Indians pitchers have collectively given up 39 base hits and 25 earned runs. They have allowed 10 home runs this season and they allow 2.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Cleveland as a pitching staff has walked 19 batters and struck out 34. They walk 4 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.35 and their FIP as a unit is 6.17.

As a team, Cleveland is batting .219, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .214 average away from home. The Indians hold a .362 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .275 which is good for 29th in baseball. They rank 25th in baseball with 7 hits per game. Carlos Santana comes into this game hitting .222 and his on-base percentage is at .300. He has 4 hits this season along with 2 runs scored and 5 runs batted in. He's struck out 2 times and has walked 2 times. Jason Kipnis is hitting .222 and he has an on-base percentage of .286. He has totaled 4 hits so far while scoring 2 runs and he's driven in 2. He has walked 2 times and has struck out 6 times. The Indians have 35 hits, including 6 doubles and 5 home runs. They've stolen 1 base while they've been thrown out stealing 1 time. Cleveland has walked 14 times this season and they've struck out 45 times as a unit. They've left 26 men on base and have a team OPS of .638. They score 4 runs per contest and have scored a total of 20 runs so far this year.

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup with a 3-2 home record and a 3-4 overall mark. With an earned run average of 7.20, Chris Archer has a 0-2 record and a 2.00 WHIP. He has 17 strikeouts over the 10 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 15 hits. He has allowed 13.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.56. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 1.31 and they have given up 11 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .157 against the Rays bullpen while being struck out 15 times and walking 3 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 8.11 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.15 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.69. The Rays pitchers as a team have surrendered 55 base knocks and 25 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 11 home runs this year and they give up 1.6 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a staff has walked 14 hitters and struck out 62. They give up a walk 2.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.13 while their FIP as a staff is 4.31.

As a team, they are batting .223, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .231 average at home. The Rays hold a .388 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .284 which is good for 26th in baseball. They rank 22nd in baseball with 7.14 hits per contest. Evan Longoria comes into this matchup batting .310 and he has an OBP of .333. He has 9 hits this year along with 5 runs scored and 5 RBI. He's struck out 5 times and has walked on 1 occasions. Logan Forsythe is hitting .222 and he has an OBP of .300. He has collected 6 hits so far while he's scored 4 runs and drove in 4. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 6 times. The Rays as a unit have 50 base hits, including 7 doubles and 10 homers. They have 3 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. Tampa Bay as a team has walked 16 times this year and they have struck out 57 times. They've had 41 men left on base and have an OPS of .672. They score 3.29 runs per game and have totaled 23 runs so far this season.

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 3-1-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 1-4-0 against the run line so far this season

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 1-4-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 2-5-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Cleveland Indians

04/05/16 P Tommy Hunter Side Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/26)
04/04/16 3B Lonnie Chisenhall Arm out indefinitely
04/04/16 LF Michael Brantley Shoulder out indefinitely

Tampa Bay Rays

04/10/16 P Chase Whitley Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Brad Boxberge Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/01/16 P Alex Cobb Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Tony's Pick: Take the Rays

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