PREVIEW: Guardians at Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Interstat) — The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays continue their three-game series Saturday at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, with first pitch scheduled for a steamy 7:10 p.m. ET under cloudy skies and a temperature of 92 degrees.

Cleveland (54-50) looks to bounce back after a 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday, a defeat that followed a 3-1, 12-inning loss to Minnesota on Thursday. The Guardians sit third in the American League Central, 6.5 games behind first-place Kansas City.

Tampa Bay (59-43) enters play Saturday with a 2.5-game lead atop the AL East. The Rays are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have won three of four meetings against Cleveland this season, including a 5-1 victory in Friday’s series opener.

Right-hander Tanner Bibee (4-9, 4.78 ERA) takes the mound for Cleveland. The 26-year-old has struggled with consistency but will aim to give the Guardians length after the bullpen was taxed in extra innings Thursday.

The Guardians will also look to right-hander Gavin Williams, who has been electric of late despite limited run support. Williams went 7 innings Thursday against Minnesota, allowing just 2 hits and 0 earned runs with 11 strikeouts in a no-decision. In his last three starts, Williams has posted a 1.80 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 20 innings.

Tampa Bay counters with left-hander Ian Seymour (3-4, 4.70 ERA). Seymour took a loss Thursday at Toronto, allowing 2 earned runs over 6 innings with 7 strikeouts. He has been inconsistent over his last five outings but showed promise July 7 against the Yankees, striking out 12 over 5.1 innings in a victory.

The Rays offense is led by designated hitter Yandy Díaz, who drove in Tampa Bay’s only run Thursday in Toronto with a sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay has been installed as a pregame favorite at -1.5 runs, with the over/under set at 7.5. The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 Cleveland victory.

Following Saturday’s game, the Guardians head to Cincinnati for a three-game series beginning Monday, while the Rays return home to host Texas for a three-game set starting Tuesday.