<p>
American League playoff contenders meet when the Rays and Indians open a four-game series Thursday night in Cleveland. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Some of Thursday's MLB betting odds opened Tampa at as low as -135 over Cleveland, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then steamed that line as high as -175 and bumped the total to 8.5.
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<h2>
Rays vs. Indians Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Tampa just split two games at home with the Dodgers, taking Wednesday's game 8-1. That game was 1-1 into the bottom of the seventh when the Rays scored a touchdown to take control.
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<p>
Even with Wednesday's win, Tampa is only 5-6 over its last 11 games. At 28-18 overall the Rays sit in second place in the AL East, two games behind the division-leading Yankees.
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Cleveland, meanwhile, just got swept three games at home by Oakland, losing Wednesday's series finale 7-2. Going back a bit further, the Indians are only 7-10 over their last 17 games.
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<p>
At 25-23 overall the Tribe sits in second place in the AL Central, seven games behind the division-leading Twins.
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<p>
This series is the first meeting this season between these two teams. Last year Tampa took the season series from Cleveland four games to two.
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<h2>
Thursday's Starting Arms<br />
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<p>
Plutko made his season debut a successful one last Saturday, holding Baltimore to one run and one hit through six innings of a 4-1 Indians victory. He needed only 83 pitches to get those 18 outs, which ain't bad.
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<p>
Earlier this Spring Plutko struggled in two appearances at Triple-A Columbus, but over parts of six seasons in the Minors, he's 43-42 with a 3.70 ERA.
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Last year Plutko finished 4-5 with Cleveland, with a 5.28 ERA.
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<p>
This will be Plutko's first-ever start against Tampa Bay.
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<p>
The Rays, meanwhile, are apparently going to go with an “opener” for Thursday's game, a strategy with which they are 9-6 this season.
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<h2>
Thursday's Batting Splits<br />
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<p>
Tampa is batting .259/.337/.450 against right-handed pitching this season. However, this lineup has been held to three runs or less seven times in its last 11 games.
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<p>
While we don't know who will start on the mound for the Rays, we rank Cleveland as one of the bottom five lineups in the Majors against right-handed pitching this season. And odds are the majority of at-bats the Indians get Thursday will come against right-handers.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
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<p>
The Rays bullpen, which will probably throw this whole game, owns a 3.50 ERA this season, along with a 1.21 WHIP.
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The Indians pen owns a 2.98 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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Unders are 24-20 in Rays games this season.
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Unders are 29-18 in Indians games this season.
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Unders are 14-11 in games played at Progressive Field this season.
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Unders played 3-2-1 in Rays-Indians games last season.
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<p><section></p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href=" https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1076908">Tampa Bay at Cleveland MLB Match-up Stats </a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
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