Guardians vs Rays MLB Predictions, Odds, Total & Best Bets (7/12)

Today’s Guardians vs. Rays MLB predictions and best bets are brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from MLB odds to the NBA and everything in between.

The Cleveland Guardians (57-35) are looking to strengthen their AL Central lead as they start a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (46-47) at Tropicana Field on Friday.

The Guardians are aiming to prevent a third consecutive loss tonight, after suffering a 10-1 defeat to the Detroit Tigers. On the other hand, the Rays are entering the game on a high note following a 5-4 victory against the New York Yankees, a win fueled by Brad Lowe’s exceptional performance with three hits and an RBI in four at-bats.

Is it possible for Cleveland to overcome its slump? Alternatively, will Tampa Bay exacerbate the visitor’s difficulties?

Let’s tackle those questions and spotlight the top MLB bets as we delve into today’s predictions and picks for the Guardians vs. Rays game.

2024 MLB Betting Picks Record: 54-58-1 (48.2%)

MLB Betting Today: Guardians vs Rays (7/12)

Guardians vs Rays Game Information

Matchup: Cleveland Guardians (57-35, 27-24 Away) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (46-47, 25-26 Home)
Venue & Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
Date: Friday, July 12, 2024
Game Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
How to Watch Guardians vs. Rays: MLB.TV, Fubo, Apple TV+

Guardians vs Rays MLB Probable Pitchers

Guardians: Carlos Carrasco (16 starts — 3-6, 5.22 ERA)
Rays: Taj Bradley (11 starts — 3-4, 3.23 ERA)

Rays vs Guardians MLB Odds & Spread

Rays vs. Guardians MLB odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Friday, July 12 at 9:44 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Guardians vs Rays Run Line

Cleveland Guardians +1.5 (-175)
Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+155)

Rays vs Guardians Over/Under

Over 8 Runs (-105)
Under 8 Runs (-115)

Guardians vs Rays Moneyline

Cleveland Guardians (+126)
Tampa Bay Rays (-137)

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Guardians vs Rays MLB Betting Trends

In its last five road games, Cleveland has a straight-up record of 1-4.
In its last 10 home games, Tampa Bay has a straight up record of 7-3.
The Over was hit in five of Cleveland’s last six games.
In four of Tampa Bay’s last six games as the favorite, the total score was under the projected amount.
The Over has been hit in each of the last five matchups between Cleveland and Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

Guardians vs Rays Predictions & MLB Picks Today (7/12)

The Guardians are going into tonight’s game as the leaders of the AL Central, but their position at the top could be jeopardized if they can’t shake off their recent slump. Despite kicking off the year on a high note, they’ve only managed to secure a 6-9 SU record in their last 15 games. Cleveland hasn’t fared well in its recent games either, losing three out of its last four and being outscored 24-15 in the process.

Recently, the Rays were experiencing a slump of their own. However, after securing two victories in three games against the Yankees, the momentum has swung in their favor. Now, they get to remain in town for another series at Tropicana Field, where their record stands at 7-3 SU in the last 10 home games.

It should be noted that the Guardians have a 12-7 straight-up win record, equivalent to 63.2%, against AL East teams this season, even though both sides are moving in different directions. On the other hand, the Rays have a 44.4% win record or 8-10 straight-up, when competing against an AL Central team.

While the Rays have a higher chance of winning tonight, their home favorite winning percentage in 2024 is only 52.9%, making it the 12th worst in the MLB. On the other hand, the Guardians have a 55.6% winning rate as road underdogs, ranking them 6th.

The Guardians thrive when they’re against the odds on the road.

Tampa Bay must also confront the reality of their poor recent performance against Cleveland. Over the past 15 encounters between these teams, the Guardians have triumphed over the Rays 10 times, a record that includes three wins in their last four clashes.

However, whether the Guardians can secure a victory largely hinges on which version of Carlos Carrasco steps onto the mound. The experienced right-handed pitcher’s performance has been inconsistent, with a 5.22 ERA through 16 starts. Despite this, his recent performances indicate improvement, as evidenced by a 3.68 ERA and 21 strikeouts in the span of 20 innings over his last four games.

That being said, he has a record of 0-3 and a 6.10 ERA in his most recent four games against Tampa Bay.

If Carrasco wants to outmatch Rays RHP Taj Bradley, he needs to keep up his recent performance. The ex-2018 fifth-rounder has been showcasing some of his season’s best baseball lately. He has a record of 1-2 with a 1.29 ERA in his previous six starts, keeping the rival batters at a .184/.261/.264 slash line.

Rays RHP Taj Bradley has been red-hot since the beginning of June. Can he maintain that momentum?

With the way the Guardians are struggling, let’s back the Rays to win. Tampa Bay is feeling good about itself after a series win over New York and is a good spot to keep things going as long as Bradley keeps up his strong play. It could wind up being close, however, the Rays are in a better position to win.

But no matter who wins, let’s take the Under on the 8-run total. A low-scoring affair is likely given that the Under is 16-10-1 when Cleveland is the road underdog and 19-15 when Tampa Bay is the home favorite. Additionally, Carrasco’s last 10 starts saw an average of 7.5 runs scored while all but one of Bradley’s 11 previous appearances featured seven or fewer total runs.

Guardians vs. Rays MLB Prediction: TB wins

Best Guardians vs. Rays Bet: u8 Total Runs (-115)

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Best Guardians vs Rays MLB Player Prop (7/12)

You can’t go wrong with a handful of Guardians vs. Rays player props, including Carlos Carrasco o2.5 earned runs (-102).

Despite the Under being the favorite on this prop, it seems more logical to support the Over. Carrasco has given up more than 2.5 earned runs in half of his 16 appearances so far, including exceeding the Over in his last two starts. The Over was also achieved in three of his last four games against the Rays, where he allowed a minimum of six earned runs each time.

Although the Rays aren’t known for scoring a lot of runs, historical trends imply that betting on the Over might be a good choice tonight.

Guardians vs Rays MLB Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (7/12)