The Tampa Bay Rays will be squaring off against the Detroit Tigers in a Thursday showdown. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Detroit will broadcast this AL matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers Odds
The Tigers are just 23-35 straight up (SU) and 26-31 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.5 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays are 36-23 SU and have gone 33-25 against the spread. Overall, the club has accumulated 1.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.5 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the over has cashed in three of those seven.
Detroit games have an over/under record of 26-29-2 thus far in 2019. The Rays have an over/under record of 25-29-4.
Ryne Stanek will get the nod for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Stanek is 0-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 34 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Tigers this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-0, 3.86 ERA and two strikeouts over 2.1 innings).
The Tigers are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Daniel Norris (2-4, 4.58 ERA), who has 42 punchouts and 15 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.39. Norris did not re a start against the Rays in 2018.
As a unit, Detroit’s pitchers have yielded 5.2 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.39, a WHIP of 1.29 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 5.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.8 K/9.
The Detroit hitters have put up 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 5.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .264/.302/.473 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Tigers’ batters have been led by Nicholas Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera. Castellanos is hitting .263/.315/.452 with six home runs, 22 RBIs and 34 runs scored, while Cabrera’s line is .287/.357/.376 with three homers, 27 RBIs and 15 runs.
For the visitors, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.4 runs per game and its starters own a 2.71 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10.35 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.43, along with a WHIP of 1.02 and a K-per-9 of 8.83.
Rays hitters have slashed .258/.337/.435 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game this year, including 5.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been fueled by Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows, who collectively have launched 20 home runs. Pham is slashing .300/.414/.483 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 26 runs and six stolen bases, while Meadows is hitting .354/.430/.659 with 12 homers, 37 RBIs, 29 runs and seven steals.
The Rays have gained 4.0 units and are 13-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in six of those games, as opposed to 12 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 4.4 units and are 19-27 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 18 of those games, compared to 27 that went under the total.
Rays vs. Tigers Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in three of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Rays have an OPS of .773 this season, including an OPS of .705 against left-handed pitchers. The Tigers’ OPS sits at .670 overall and .725 against lefties.
- Detroit has posted 22.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.4 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Tigers have hit 13 over their last 10.
