The Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians meet in game one of their AL Wild Card series in MLB playoff action from Progressive Field on Friday afternoon.

The Tampa Bay Rays snuck in as the last wild card spot, finishing the year with a record of 86-76. Randy Arozarena has a team-high 154 hits, 89 RBIs, 20 home runs and 41 doubles and Isaac Paredes also has 20 home runs and 45 RBIs. Manuel Margot has 47 RBIs and a .274 batting average of his own and Yandy Diaz has 140 hits and a .296 batting average as well on the year. Ji-Man Choi also has 52 RBIs up to this point. Shane McClanahan will start here and was 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA in the regular season.

The Cleveland Guardians will represent the AL Central as the division winner following a 2022 season record of 92-70. Jose Ramirez has 168 hits, 29 home runs and 126 RBIs along with a .280 batting average while Owen Miller has a .243 batting average with 26 doubles as well this season. Ramirez also has 44 doubles and Steven Kwan has 168 hits with 25 doubles as well as a .298 batting average this season. Ramirez has 5 triples while Amed Rosario has 9 triples as well as a team-high 180 hits and Andres Gimenez has a .297 batting average on the year. Shane Bieber will start here and was 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA in the regular season.

Tampa Bay is 1-6 in their last 7 playoff road games and 1-4 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 5-1 in their last 6 games against the AL Central. Cleveland is 7-1 in their last 8 games against a team with a left-handed starter and 6-2 in tehri last 8 home games while the over is 6-0 in their last 6 home games.

I get the case to be made either way in this game, but I’m giving a strong look to the under here. These are two teams with fantastic bullpens that can follow up their respective staff aces in this game when both end up making way, and there are going to be strong winds in this game blowing in which should keep the ball in the park and keep scoring at a premium. It’s a low total, but I honestly think this game is first to 3 wins. Give me the under here.