Cleveland Guardians vs Tampa Bay Rays Starting Lineup — Sunday, Jul 26, 2026
Expected Batting Order
Official lineups not yet announced for this game. Check back closer to game time.
No lineup data available for Cleveland Guardians.
No lineup data available for Tampa Bay Rays.
Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays (2026-07-26). Parker Messick vs Drew Rasmussen at Tropicana Field.
Starters — Messick has been excellent overall with a 2.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 117.2 innings. He brings solid bat-missing ability at 8.87 K/9, with 2.75 BB/9 and a strong 0.84 HR/9. His last three starts were steady: 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB; 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 4 BB; and 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, 3 BB. The recent trend is down, but the run prevention has remained sharp. Rasmussen owns a 3.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 104.1 innings, with 8.88 K/9, elite 1.55 BB/9, and 1.04 HR/9. His last three starts were more uneven: 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB; 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 2 K, 0 BB; and 5 IP, 5 ER, 2 K, 1 BB. The recent trend is up, though his command profile still stands out.
Teams — Cleveland enters with a .684 OPS, 420 runs, and a .232 team average, pointing to a lighter offensive profile. The Guardians’ pitching staff has been respectable at a 3.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, but the club is 4-6 over its last 10 games. Tampa Bay has been better offensively, posting a .739 OPS, 473 runs, and a .261 average. The Rays’ staff is close to Cleveland’s in ERA at 3.79, but their 1.17 WHIP is cleaner, and they are 5-5 over the last 10. From a betting angle, Tampa Bay shows the stronger lineup baseline, while Cleveland counters with the sharper starting ERA in this matchup.