Sunday afternoon baseball and we will see the Tama Bay Rays visit the Cleveland Indians in game 4 of their 4 game series. The game is scheduled for a 1.05 (ET) pm start time and it will be televised live on Sun Sports (Tampa Bay) and STO (Cleveland). Currently the odds have the Indians favored at -108, while Tampa Bay is a dog of -102. The total for the game sits at 9 runs.
Free Analysis: The Tampa Bay Rays have fallen 7 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East. They will be looking to salvage a series split Sunday against the Cleveland Indians, who took two of the first three to keep themselves within three games of Chicago in the AL Central. Cleveland has managed to stay in contention despite a run differential of minus-28 and a pitching staff that has allowed more runs than any American League team except Minnesota. Looking to right the ship a bit for a Tampa team that is just 4-9 in their last 13 games will be James Shields. Shields has been struggling a bit of late, giving up 13 runs and a whopping 31 hits over 19 2/3 innings in his last three starts. He remains one of the league’s most durable (111 2/3 innings) and overpowering hurlers (104 strikeouts), striking out 23 and walking only three in his last three games. In eight career games against Cleveland, Shields is 1-5 despite a reasonable 3.83 ERA. Zach McAllister has been adequate when called upon this season, pitching well enough for the Indians to win five of the six games he has started. With the exception of a five-walk day against Seattle in May, he has shown excellent control (27 strikeouts, two walks in his other five starts). McAllister is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in his four home starts, all of which Cleveland won. This is his first time facing Tampa Bay. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo has led a balanced and potent Cleveland lineup, that has scored 6.6 rpg and has hit .319 in their last 10 games. Most of the Indians have struggled against Shields though, with first baseman Matt LaPorta (5-for-10, homer), shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (4-for-9, homer) and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo (5-for-12) the exceptions. The rest of the team is 22-for-140. Tampa Bay has shown a tendency for finishing weekends on a high note, winning 22 of its last 29 Sunday contests.
Free Pick: Despite the way the Rays have played on Sunday's, Im gonna go with the home team here. After a recent 5 game losing streak the Tribe have come on to win 7 of their last 10 games, while Tampa Bay has won just 4 of their last 13 games. Making it tougher for the Rays is the fact that their Ace James Shields has been struggling of late, as he comes in with a 1-1 mark and a 5.95 ERA in his last 3 starts. He is 5-2 with a 4.24 ERA on the road, but in his last 3 away from home he is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA. It won't get easier for him today as this Cleveland offense is hot. The Tribe comes in having hit .319 and scored 6.6 rpg in their last 10 games, and for a team that has really struggled to score at home, they have turned that around as well, putting up 6.8 rpg in their last 5 at home. The Rays offensively are not a healthy bunch, with Jeff Kippinger the latest to miss some games, and it has shown in their numbers as they have hit just .215 and have scored 3.9 rpg in their last 10 games. They will face Zach McCallister, who has allowed more than 3 ER's just once in 6 starts this year. He is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA at home and 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA in his last 3 starts overall. The Tribe has gone 5-1 in his starts overall and 4-0 in his home starts. I look for that trend to continue vs a banged up Rays squad, with a struggling starter on the mound.
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MLB Free Picks: Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Betting
What baseball bettors need to know about Rays at Indians on Sunday (7/8/12) - with Pregame.com's Bryan Leonard and host Scott Spreitzer.