Tampa Bay enters this one the victor in five of their previous six games after clubbing Boston 7-1 in the rubber game of a three-game set at Fenway Park. The Rays now hand the ball to the ace of their rotation in Shane McClanahan, who has to be a top candidate for the AL Cy Young as we near the All-Star break. All he’s done is post a 9-3 record with a 1.74 ERA, a 0.814 WHIP, 17 walks and 133 strikeouts over 98.1 innings in 16 starts. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last 11 starts and is 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, six walks and 42 punchouts over 31.3 innings in five road starts. Cincinnati counters with Luis Castillo, which might have been a decent matchup and the Reds lineup of 2019. As it stands, the Reds are going to have to get some length and quality out of their starter as the bullpen is a bit ragged after an extra-inning affair Wednesday followed by a doubleheader Thursday. Cincinnati’s staff hands out runs like candy on Halloween and that plays right into Tampa Bay’s favor. Take the Rays with their ace to win the opener in this contest.