The Tampa Bay Rays are set to battle the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday at Progressive Field, with the first pitch slated for 1:40 p.m. ET. This matchup promises to be an exciting chapter in their season as both teams vie for crucial wins.
Tampa Bay (73-75 SU, 76-72 RL, and 65-75-8 O/U) will send right-hander Taj Bradley to the mound. The 23-year-old pitcher holds a record of 6-10 along with a 4.40 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 22 appearances this year, totaling 122.1 innings pitched.
On the opposite side, Cleveland (84-64 SU, 74-74 RL, and 67-73-8 O/U) counters with righty Ben Lively. The 32-year-old has achieved an 11-9 record, boasting a 4.01 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 26 starts, amassing 137.0 innings this season.
*This article is published prior to the conclusion of Saturday’s game.
Taj Bradley: A Young Pitcher on the Rise
Tampa Bay kicked off the series with a 5-2 victory, showcasing their offensive strength with three runs early in the game and two additional runs late. The Rays’ bullpen stepped up effectively after starter Ryan Pepiot’s two-inning stint.
The Rays currently hold a 36-37 record on the road and a 29-28 mark in day games this season. As of now, they are 6-7 in September and 25-27 since the All-Star break. While they still have a chance to contend for the postseason, the path to an AL Wild Card spot looks challenging.
Bradley is scheduled to pitch for Tampa Bay on Sunday. His most recent outing against Philadelphia saw him surrender four runs (three earned) over six innings, with six strikeouts. This season, he has a road record of 3-3, a 4.82 ERA, and a 1.32 WHIP from ten starts. Notably, since the All-Star break, he has struggled with a 6.29 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in ten starts. However, he previously faced the Guardians on July 12, achieving an impressive seven-inning performance with eight strikeouts and no runs allowed.
Guardians Seeking Consistency in Their Game
Cleveland has stumbled in the early games of this series, managing just three runs combined. The Guardians failed to score until the eighth inning of Friday’s contest, finishing the game with a disappointing 1-for-7 performance with runners in scoring position.
The Guardians have seen their position in the AL Central standings weaken, with teams like Kansas City and Minnesota closing the gap. In August, Cleveland recorded a 12-17 record and stands at 26-27 since the All-Star break. Questions linger about whether they can reclaim their momentum for a strong postseason run.
On Sunday, Lively will take the mound for Cleveland. His last appearance involved two innings against the White Sox, where he allowed just one hit and no runs. At home, he holds a solid record of 7-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 12 starts this season. In his previous meeting against Tampa Bay on July 14, Lively limited the Rays to two runs on three hits while striking out seven batters over 5.1 innings.
Making Predictions: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians
Given the current circumstances, Tampa Bay has a solid chance of securing another win against Cleveland this weekend. Although Bradley’s performance in the second half has been inconsistent, there are signs of improvement. After a tough August where he only struck out 18 batters, he has bounced back with 16 strikeouts over his last two starts, resembling the high-strikeout pitcher he was earlier in the season with a rate of 30.5%.
He is expected to face a Guardians lineup that has struggled, ranking 26th in wOBA (.293) and 24th in wRC+ (90) since the All-Star break. The Rays’ bullpen also boasts an impressive second-half ERA of 2.68, along with the fourth-most strikeouts (223) and a third-lowest opponent batting average of .201. With these factors in mind, the Rays may hold the upper hand in this matchup.
