The Detroit Tigers are heading south to Tropicana Field to face the Tampa Bay Rays. Fox Sports Sun will televise this AL matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Vegas is listing Tampa Bay (-185) as the favorite over Detroit (+175). Gamblers can wager on the games total with odds sitting at +100 for over 7.5 runs and -120 for under 7.5. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds standing at Tigers +1.5 runs (-125) and Rays -1.5 runs (+105).
The Rays are 45-44 straight up (SU) and 51-37 against the spread (ATS). The teams gained 6.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 13.4 units (ATS). The Tigers have gone 40-52 SU this year and are 49-42 ATS. In total, the teams gained 2.1 units for moneyline gamblers, but have lost 1.1 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 35-50-3 so far in 2018. Detroit has also been a great under bet with a total record of 36-52-3.
Francisco Liriano will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The southpaw Liriano is 3-5 with a 4.03 ERA and 57 strikeouts. He has yet to face Tampa Bay this year, but he did make four starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 1-1 record with a 6.61 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The Rays are putting the ball in the hands of righty Chris Archer (3-4, 4.24 ERA), who’s got 76 punchouts and 26 walks to his name, as well as a 1.34 WHIP. Archer is 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.61, a WHIP of 1.15 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 3.44 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 8.0 K/9.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .247/.356/.400 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rays batters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos. Duffy is slashing .306/.358/.410 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 28 runs scored, and Ramos has produced a line of .289/.340/.462 with 12 homers, 47 RBIs and 26 runs.
In the other dugout, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.18 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.30 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.56, along with a WHIP of 1.26.
The Tigers offense has slashed .248/.308/.390 on its way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 3.7 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s offensive production has been powered by right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias, who’ve collectively belted 17 home runs. Castellanos is slashing .301/.352/.518 with 15 home runs, 55 RBIs and 49 runs scored, while Iglesias (.274/.310/.381) has produced two homers, 32 RBIs, 29 runs and 12 stolen bases.
The Tigers have lost 7.7 units and are 33-34 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 24 of those games, as opposed to 41 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.8 units and are 19-10 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 19 that’ve cashed the under.
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in four of Detroit’s last seven games.
- Detroit has recorded 20.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
