Wacha expected to start as Tampa Bay hosts Cleveland

Updated Jul. 7, 2021 3:20 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Cleveland Indians (42-40, second in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (49-36, second in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Wednesday, 12:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Indians: J.C. Mejia (1-3, 6.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 25 strikeouts) Rays: Michael Wacha (1-2, 5.26 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 44 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: Tampa Bay and Cleveland will face off on Wednesday.

The Rays are 24-16 in home games in 2020. Tampa Bay has slugged .393 this season. Austin Meadows leads the team with a .488 slugging percentage, including 40 extra-base hits and 16 home runs.

The Indians are 21-21 in road games. Cleveland has a collective .228 this season, led by Jose Ramirez with an average of .272.

The Rays won the last meeting 9-8. Pete Fairbanks recorded his second victory and Brandon Lowe went 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs for Tampa Bay. Emmanuel Clase took his fourth loss for Cleveland.

TOP PERFORMERS: Randy Arozarena leads the Rays with 77 hits and has 40 RBIs.

Ramirez leads the Indians with 75 hits and is batting .272.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 5-5, .247 batting average, 5.34 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Indians: 1-9, .242 batting average, 6.64 ERA, outscored by 21 runs

INJURIES: Rays: Ryan Thompson: (shoulder), Chaz Roe: (shoulder), Cody Reed: (thumb), Colin Poche: (elbow), Tyler Glasnow: (elbow), Josh Fleming: (calf), Oliver Drake: (forearm), Yonny Chirinos: (elbow), Jalen Beeks: (elbow), Chris Archer: (forearm), Nick Anderson: (elbow), Manuel Margot: (hamstring).

Indians: Zach Plesac: (thumb), Cam Hill: (wrist), Aaron Civale: (finger), Shane Bieber: (shoulder), Eddie Rosario: (side), Josh Naylor: (ankle), Jordan Luplow: (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.