The Tampa Bay Rays are set to host their cross-state rival Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Sun will broadcast this interleague matchup and the action gets going at 6:10 p.m. ET.
Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 49-48 straight up (SU) and 55-41 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 8.2 units for moneyline bettors and 14.3 units (ATS). Tampa Bay has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Marlins have gone 42-57 SU this year and are 53-45 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 3.7 units for moneyline bettors, but have lost 2.0 units ATS. Miami has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 40-53-3 so far in 2018. The Marlins have an over/under record of 50-46-2.
Pablo Lopez will get the nod for the visiting Marlins. Lopez is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA and 14 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays are putting the ball in the right hand of Ryne Stanek (1-2, 2.08 ERA), who has 44 strikeouts and 15 walks as well as a 0.95 WHIP. Stanek is 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Miami this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 3.76, a WHIP of 1.19 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 3.69 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s hitters are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, including 7.1 per game over its last 10 games and 8.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .320/.380/.500 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Rays’ offense has been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos. Duffy is hitting .317/.371/.413 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored, and Ramos is batting .297 with 14 homers, 53 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Miami’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.63 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 7.67 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.87, along with a K/9 of 8.44.
The Marlins offense has slashed .245/.314/.369 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Starlin Castro and third baseman Brian Anderson have led Miami’s hitters. Castro is slashing .293/.339/.409 with seven home runs, 37 RBIs and 58 runs scored. Anderson is slashing .285/.361/.424 with eight homers, 49 RBIs and 56 runs scored.
Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Marlins, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Miami has logged 10 extra-base hits over its last five games. Tampa Bay has 23 XBH over its last five.
The Marlins have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 12 over their last 10.
The Miami defense has allowed two errors over its last five games, compared to six errors for Tampa Bay over its last five.
The Rays have dropped four of their last five games SU.
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