Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions – USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire

The Tampa Bay Rays (53-46) host the Cleveland Guardians (50-48) Friday for the 1st game of a 3-game set at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Lets analyze Tipico Sportsbooks lines around the Guardians vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Cleveland is 4-4 straight up (SU) following the All-Star Game with 2 straight 4-game series splits at the Chicago White Sox and at the Boston Red Sox.

Tampa is just 2-5 SU since the All-Star break, which includes back-to-back series losses at the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles.

Fridays game is their 1st meeting of the season. The Rays won 6 of 7 from the Guardians in 2021.

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RHP Shane Bieber vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs

Bieber is 4-6 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 in 111 2/3 IP over 18 starts.

Springs is 3-2 with a 2.50 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in 68 1/3 IP across 12 starts and 8 relief appearances.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:01 a.m. ET.

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Rays 4, Guardians 2

BETtheRAYS (-117)before they get too expensive.

Tipico opened Tampa at -110 but its been steamed up to the current number despite the Guardians (-103) having a former Cy Young-winning ace on the hill and being in much better form.

But, Clevelands lineup struggles vs. left-handed pitching and Springs grades higher than Bieber in several advanced pitching metrics.

For instance, the Guardians are 29th in wRC+ (75) and wOBA (.273), 30th in ISO (.102) and 26th in hard-hit rate, per FanGraphs.

Also, Bieber and Springs have the same expected ERA but Springs has a much better chase rate, hard-hit rate and exit velocity than Bieber, according to Statcast.

BETtheRAYS (-117).

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PASS.

The Rays +1.5 (-210) is overpriced and their alternate line is a no-go because Tampa is 14-24 RL as home favorites and the Guardians -1.5 (+165) are 21-13 RL as road underdogs.

PASSwith a lean to the Under 6.5 (+105) because the Rays are 3-8-1 O/U in Springs 12 starts.

But, this is a sharp number and the O/U trends are pointing in different directions so its hard to find value in betting the total.

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Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions - USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire