The Tampa Bay Rays will head a few hours south to take on the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. This interleague matchup will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Sun will be televising the game.
Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Tampa Bay (-125) as the favorite over Miami (+115). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 7.5 runs and +100 for under 7.5. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at Rays -1.5 runs (+120) and Marlins +1.5 runs (-140).
The Rays are 42-41 SU and have gone 48-34 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 6.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 13.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread in each of its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Marlins, on the other hand, are 34-51 SU and 45-39 ATS. The team has gained 1.2 units for moneyline bettors while earning 2.8 units ATS. Miami has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in three of those seven.
Marlins games have an over/under record of 43-39-2 so far in 2018. Rays games have gone under 45 times, gone over 34 times and pushed on three occasions.
Nathan Eovaldi is getting the nod for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Eovaldi (2-3, 4.08 ERA) has recorded 30 strikeouts in 35.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Marlins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Marlins are turning to lefty Wei-Yin Chen (2-5, 6.14 ERA), who has 41 punchouts and 25 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.62. Chen only made one start against the Rays in 2017 (0-0, 3.00 ERA and seven strikeouts across six innings).
As a unit, Miami’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.71, a WHIP of 1.34 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.7. The bullpen has a 4.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Miami hitters are putting up 3.7 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .228/.277/.340 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Marlins’ offense has been led by third baseman Brian Anderson and second baseman Starlin Castro. Anderson is hitting .288/.363/.411 with five home runs, 40 RBIs and 47 runs scored, and Castro’s line is .280/.328/.389 with five homers, 31 RBIs and 49 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 8.60 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.45, along with a K/9 of 8.17.
The Rays offense has slashed .250/.324/.384 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos, who’ve collectively swatted 15 home runs. Duffy is slashing .321/.365/.430 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 24 runs scored, while Ramos is hitting .290/.337/.459 with 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
The Marlins have lost 1.2 units and are 29-32 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 31 of those games, compared to 28 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Miami Marlins MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Tampa Bay has tallied three extra-base hits over its last five contests. Miami has eight XBH over its last five.
The Rays have won eight of their last nine games SU.
Tampa Bay has recorded 19.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 16.0 over its last five.
The Rays have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Marlins have hit 11 over their last 10.
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