The Tampa Bay Rays opened a three-game series Monday against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, with Steven Matz scheduled to start for Tampa Bay and Parker Messick lined up for Cleveland. The game was televised on Tampa Bay Rays and FOX Sports 1.
The Rays came in at 16-11 and had won four straight after sweeping the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. That stretch has helped keep Tampa Bay near the top of the early standings, while Cleveland entered at 15-14 and trying to steady an offense that has managed just.231 as a team.
Matz takes the mound at 3-1 with a 4.81 ERA, looking to bounce back after his most recent start against the Cincinnati Reds, when he allowed four earned runs and three home runs. Tampa Bay has leaned on Yandy Diaz, who is hitting.337 with a.425 on-base percentage and leads the club in both categories.
Messick has been the sharper arm on paper. He is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA and has not pitched fewer than five innings in any start this season or allowed more than three earned runs in one. Over his first 12 career starts, he was 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA, a sign that Cleveland may again need quality innings rather than a big night from a lineup that has struggled to produce.
The contrast in recent form is what makes Monday’s opener matter. Tampa Bay arrives hot, Cleveland arrives with a thin offensive line, and the matchup puts two young starters in positions that could shape the tone of the series before it settles in. Jose Ramirez is hitting.229 and Rhys Hoskins is at.212, numbers that underline how much the Guardians need someone in the middle of the order to break through.
