The Rays are just on another planet right now and I will take advantage again of that hot streak this team has put together. Vs. RH starters the Rays are an unconscious 84-31 in their last 115 home games. TB is 14-4 in their last 18 vs. a losing team with Niemann starting and Niemann has been solid going deep into all three of his starts with 3 or less ER. He had a 3.05 ERA at home last year and proved that he has the ability to pitch on the turf. He absolutely dominated the Royals in two starts going a combined 17 IP giving up 1 ER for a 0.53 ERA with 16 K and 6 hits allowed. He'll go up against the very inconsistent Brian Bannister.
Bannister is one of my favorite pitchers to bet with and bet against despite being inconsistent. He has 4 career starts @ TB. Two of them were gems and two of them were awful with 17 hits allowed in 8.2 IP giving up 14 ER. I predict a start in between the good and the bad and that will be enough for this hot hitting TB team to win by more than 1 run which they have done 82% of the time in their wins. TB in their last 5 .361 average 11.31 runs per 9 innings vs. RHP. TB has a .306 average in 108 AB vs. Bannister. KC is 9-19 vs. RH starter in their last 28. Bannister is 0-11 in his last 11 Friday starts. Don't think he can hold back this TB team right now they are just too hot and the KC bullpen is just not that good with a 5.41 ERA on the season.
Niese has really pitched nicely and shows a maturity beyond his rookie years being able to get out of trouble. That may be a risk going into Friday's start against the Phillies but the Phillies have really struggled against LH pitching with a .156 average in their last 5. They are 1-6 v. LH starters in their last 7 overall. Kendrick will start for the Phils and he'll go up against a Mets line up that is streaky, but hitting right now. With Ike Davis coming up he has full plate coverage and ability to go the other way and his left handed bat gives the Mets balance. Wright and Bay started to get hot as well. If the Mets get an early lead I think their bullpen and Niese can hold it out. Mets 9-1 in their last 10 games and 5-1 in Niese last 6 starts as a dog.
