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Shields tries to hand Cleveland its 4th straight loss
CLEVELAND INDIANS (30-18)
at TAMPA BAY RAYS (27-23)
First pitch: Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Tampa Bay -180, Cleveland +170, Total: 7.5
Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields will look to make it two in a row over Cleveland when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Shields (5-2, 2.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 73 K in 76.2 IP) had been 0-4 with a 4.06 ERA in six starts against the Indians prior to his matchup on May 12. But in that game, he limited Cleveland to seven hits and two runs in seven innings of a 7-4 Rays victory. In 44.2 innings versus Cleveland, he has 53 strikeouts. The right-hander dominated Florida in his most recent start last Sunday, throwing a complete-game, three-hit shutout with a career-best 13 strikeouts and just one walk. In his last home start against the Yankees, he took the loss after giving up three earned runs in seven innings. Shields, who has the AL’s third-lowest ERA behind Josh Beckett (1.69) and Alexi Ogando (1.81), also has a stellar 2.11 ERA at Tropicana Field this season. But he’s just 1-2 in five home starts because of a paltry 11 total runs of support.
Cleveland will try to break a three-game losing streak by sending Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) to the mound. The right-hander has won two straight games since losing to the Rays on May 11. In that contest, his lone career outing versus the Rays, he allowed four earned runs and six hits in five innings. But in his past two starts, he defeated Kansas City 7-3 on May 17 by giving up two runs in 5.1 innings and beat Cincinnati 12-4 on May 22 by surrendering four runs in six innings. Carrasco has been much better on the road this year, as he’s 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA in five away starts in 2011 (7.64 home ERA). In 27.2 innings outside of Cleveland, he has 21 strikeouts and has only allowed one home run.
With Friday’s 5-0 victory behind David Price’s 12-strikeout effort, the Rays are 3-1 against Cleveland this year, and 9-1 in their past 10 contests against the Indians at Tropicana Field. They are also 8-2 with Shields on the mound this year. The pick here is Tampa Bay, which is backed up by this four-star FoxSheets trend.
Play Against - Road underdogs with a money line of +150 or more (CLEVELAND) - with a starting pitcher whose gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start against opponent with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better on the season-AL. (103-25 over the last 5 seasons.) (80.5%, +56.5 units. Rating = 4*).
CLEVELAND INDIANS (30-18)
at TAMPA BAY RAYS (27-23)
First pitch: Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Tampa Bay -180, Cleveland +170, Total: 7.5
Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields will look to make it two in a row over Cleveland when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Shields (5-2, 2.00 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 73 K in 76.2 IP) had been 0-4 with a 4.06 ERA in six starts against the Indians prior to his matchup on May 12. But in that game, he limited Cleveland to seven hits and two runs in seven innings of a 7-4 Rays victory. In 44.2 innings versus Cleveland, he has 53 strikeouts. The right-hander dominated Florida in his most recent start last Sunday, throwing a complete-game, three-hit shutout with a career-best 13 strikeouts and just one walk. In his last home start against the Yankees, he took the loss after giving up three earned runs in seven innings. Shields, who has the AL’s third-lowest ERA behind Josh Beckett (1.69) and Alexi Ogando (1.81), also has a stellar 2.11 ERA at Tropicana Field this season. But he’s just 1-2 in five home starts because of a paltry 11 total runs of support.
Cleveland will try to break a three-game losing streak by sending Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 5.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) to the mound. The right-hander has won two straight games since losing to the Rays on May 11. In that contest, his lone career outing versus the Rays, he allowed four earned runs and six hits in five innings. But in his past two starts, he defeated Kansas City 7-3 on May 17 by giving up two runs in 5.1 innings and beat Cincinnati 12-4 on May 22 by surrendering four runs in six innings. Carrasco has been much better on the road this year, as he’s 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA in five away starts in 2011 (7.64 home ERA). In 27.2 innings outside of Cleveland, he has 21 strikeouts and has only allowed one home run.
With Friday’s 5-0 victory behind David Price’s 12-strikeout effort, the Rays are 3-1 against Cleveland this year, and 9-1 in their past 10 contests against the Indians at Tropicana Field. They are also 8-2 with Shields on the mound this year. The pick here is Tampa Bay, which is backed up by this four-star FoxSheets trend.
Play Against - Road underdogs with a money line of +150 or more (CLEVELAND) - with a starting pitcher whose gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start against opponent with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better on the season-AL. (103-25 over the last 5 seasons.) (80.5%, +56.5 units. Rating = 4*).
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