Matchup: Cleveland Guardians vs Tampa Bay Rays
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Sun
Betting Odds: Cleveland (+172) Tampa Bay (-210)
The Cleveland Guardians (69-70) are set to visit George M. Steinbrenner Field this Sunday to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays (71-69). The betting line favors the Guardians at +172, while the Rays are listed at -210. The total runs expected in this matchup is set at 8. Both teams will have Parker Messick and Drew Rasmussen on the mound.
The Cleveland Guardians have been averaging 3.9 runs per game, placing them at 27th in Major League Baseball. They have scored a total of 540 runs with an on-base percentage of .294. As a team, the Guardians have recorded 198 doubles and 145 home runs, along with 519 RBIs and 1,015 hits, culminating in a batting average of .223. Their slugging percentage stands at .368, while they have fanned 1,148 times against 421 walks this season.
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The Guardians’ pitching staff holds an earned run average (ERA) of 3.97, ranking 16th in the league, and they have struck out a total of 1,156 batters. They have allowed 152 home runs and given up 596 runs (13th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 479 batters this year, and their FIP is at 4.14. Cleveland has allowed 1,148 hits (8.4 per nine innings) and accumulated 544 earned runs, displaying a K/BB ratio of 2.41 and a combined WHIP of 1.32.
This season, the Guardians have utilized 460 relievers, who have inherited 183 runners, with 33.9% scoring. They currently have 39 saves from 57 opportunities, resulting in a save percentage of 68.4%. The bullpen has entered 152 save situations and recorded 92 holds (5th in the league). Guardians’ relievers have faced runners 130 times and appeared in 159 high-leverage situations.
The Guardians have a .693 defensive efficiency rate, converting 69.3% of balls in play into outs over 11,106 innings, placing them 20th in professional baseball. The team also has 3,702 putouts, 1,138 assists, and 88 errors for a fielding percentage of .982, which ranks 27th overall, along with 103 double plays turned.
Messick (1-0 career record) has a FIP of 2.07 while facing 71 batters in the MLB. He has allowed 20 hits (10.5 hits per nine innings) and issued 3 walks. His ERA is 2.11 (4 earned runs) with a career WHIP of 1.345, having pitched 17 innings with 14 strikeouts in his professional career.
The Tampa Bay Rays hold an on-base percentage of .314 and a team batting average of .253 this season. They have struck out 1,196 times (12th in MLB) and produced 1,195 hits. With 157 home runs and 608 RBIs, the Rays average 4.57 runs per game (11th in MLB). They’ve also hit 212 doubles and recorded 401 walks, resulting in a slugging percentage of .403.
The Rays’ pitching unit has conceded 577 runs this season, with a total ERA of 3.88 (534 earned runs given up). They have surrendered 184 home runs and allow 4.19 runs per nine innings (9th in the league). The team’s WHIP stands at 1.204 with a FIP of 4.21. Currently, their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 8.80 (1,216 strikeouts to 400 walks), ranking them 5th in baseball for total hits allowed (1,093).
In 136 save situations, the Rays have logged 79 holds but have also incurred 23 blown saves. They have called upon their bullpen 55 times during save opportunities, converting 32 saves. Their relievers have appeared in 131 high-leverage situations, and faced base runners 96 times. With an inherited score rate of 31.5%, their save percentage remains at 58.2%, ranking them 25th in baseball, utilizing 440 relievers this season.
Defensively, the Rays have turned 128 double plays and maintain a fielding percentage of .987 (9th in pro baseball). They have registered 1,228 assists, 64 errors, and amassed 3,721 putouts in this season. Across 11,163 innings, the Rays exhibit a defensive efficiency of 71.0% (4th in professional baseball).
Throughout his professional career, Rasmussen has allowed 359 hits while achieving 416 strikeouts over 444 innings pitched. With a career record of 30-17, he holds a 2.90 ERA while allowing 7.3 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered a total of 143 earned runs, maintaining a WHIP of 1.055 and a FIP of 2.9, with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.78 after facing 1,773 batters in the MLB.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s MLB matchup against the spread or moneyline?
Tony Sink’s Prediction: Opt for Tampa Bay (-210)
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