Let's talk about this engaging encounter between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians, down at the Progressive Field in Ohio, a park that isn't exactly a batter's paradise when you get down to the brass tacks. My grandma throws harder than their pitchers, and she has arthritis.
Starting on the mound for Tampa Bay we got Taj Bradley, who's having an alright season with a 4.47 ERA and a whip of 1.23, not forgetting his punch out rate at a solid 10.2 K/9, having warmed the bench 22 times. On the Guardians side, it'll be Ben Lively whose numbers are not too shabby either with 4.13 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 7.5 K/9 in 26 games. Benjamin might need a touch more of that liveliness to keep the Garrison of the Rays at bay. Pun wholly intended.
The Rays coming in with some shining 'pearls' of their own. Yandy Diaz is hitting like he's mad at the baseball with a 0.352 average, 4 homers and 13 RBIs, although he wouldn't steal a base to save himself. Likewise, Jonny Deluca isn't too shabby with his 0.291 average, 3 dingers and 9 RBIs and showing he's got wheels with 7 stolen bases. To add to the mix we got Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero.
The Guardians counter with Lane Thomas, who boasts a respectable 0.296 average with 18 Ribbies to boot, and 'Knock-Knock' Jose Ramirez whose base thievery is at a career-high 12 stolen bases despite his average living in the basement at 0.222. Kyle Manzardo and Josh Naylor are also adding some heft to the Guardians lineup.
Looking at their last five dances, they've ended up split right down the middle, with Rays winning the latest showdown 3-2, you couldn't put a wafer thin mint between these teams head to head. The Guardians, however, have been doing better throughout the regular season, with 85 wins to Rays' 73.
Recent form? well, it's a smorgasbord of wins and losses for both teams - a bit like my marriages.
But what do all these numbers mean? Well, not to leave you on tenterhooks, here's my prediction:
Albert’s Prediction: Cleveland Guardians by 2