Guardians vs. Rays Game 2 Prediction: Picks, Odds and Best Bets

In Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays meet at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on TBS and truTV.

Cleveland fired out for a 1-0 series lead, seizing home-field advantage from the American League East Division champs, regardless of what happens in Game 2.

In Game 1, the Guardians posted a 7-3 victory, providing 14 hits, while the Rays managed just seven hits. Cleveland saw C Patrick Bailey leave the yard with his second postseason homer, a solo shot in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2. RF Chase DeLauter also had a solo shot in the top of the sixth to get Cleveland on the ground.

The flood gates really opened in the late innings against the Tampa Bay bullpen once the Guardians were able to get RHP Drew Rasmussen out of the game. LHP Foster Griffin was just so-so for Cleveland in his first-career postseason start, allowing two runs, five hits and no walks with three strikeouts across five innings. Rasmussen had a quality start, allowing two runs and eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings in a 91-pitch outing.

Rays LHP Cam Booser did a decent job in relief, but RHP Tyler Wells gave up two runs while recording just a single out, and RHP Cole Sulser was smacked around for three runs, two hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning, as things got away from Tampa late.

On the flip side, the Cleveland bullpen was sharp. Five different pitchers worked a single inning, with RHP Hunter Gaddis picking up the relief win. Only LHP Erik Sabrowski allowed a run, as CF Cedric Mullins had a solo homer to slice Cleveland’s lead to 4-3 at the time.

There was a scary moment late in Game 1, too, as LF Jonny DeLuca and 3B Junior Caminero were involved in a collision in foul territory pursuing a pop-up. DeLuca’s shoulder hit Caminero in the chest or collarbone area, and the All-Star was down for a while.

Guardians vs. Rays Game 2 Best Bets

In Game 2, Guardians ace LHP Parker Messick takes the ball looking to get Cleveland a commanding 2-0 series lead heading back home. Rays RHP Freddy Peralta makes the start for the home side. He allowed one run, three hits and a walk in just 4.2 IP in Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees.

Messick is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts in the postseason, both against the White Sox. He has walked six walks in his 6.2 IP, which is a departure from his stellar season numbers of 12-9, 2.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Messick was on the short end of a 1-0 loss opposite Rasmussen on July 26 in St. Pete, allowing one earned run, six hits and no walks with six strikeouts in 7.2 IP. He also allowed just a single run with three hits, two walks and nine strikeouts in a no-decision April 27 at Progressive Field in a 3-2 loss.

While the Rays went 31-17 vs. LHP in the regular season, they did lose Game 1 with a southpaw on the bump. Messick is due for a good outing in the postseason after two abbreviated starts in the ALDS. Let’s side with the GUARDIANS (+112) at plus-money, and we’ll go with the OVER 6.5 (-122), as Cleveland’s offense is averaging 8.3 runs per game (RPG) in three postseason road contests.