The Tampa Bay Rays will play the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Sun will televise this interleague matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Atlanta Braves Odds
Atlanta (-150) is favored over Tampa Bay (+140) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds standing at -155 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +135 for the Braves -1.5.
The Braves are 74-57 straight up (SU) and 67-62 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 18.8 units for moneyline bettors and 0.5 units (ATS). Atlanta has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in all seven of them. The Rays are 70-62 SU and have gone 72-59 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 15.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 15.3 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Atlanta games have a 59-65-5 over/under record in 2018. The Rays have also been a solid under bet with a total record of 55-72-4.
Diego Castillo will get the nod for the visiting Rays. Castillo (3-2, 3.23 ERA) has racked up 41 strikeouts in 39 innings so far. He has yet to face the Braves this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Braves are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Sean Newcomb (11-6, 3.57 ERA), who’s got 131 strikeouts and 67 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.29. Newcomb is 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Atlanta’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.47 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
The Atlanta hitters have produced 4.8 runs per outing, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .268/.346/.429 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Braves’ hitters have been led by right fielder Nick Markakis and first baseman Freddie Freeman. Markakis is slashing .311/.375/.477 with 14 home runs, 83 RBIs and 70 runs scored, while Freeman’s line is .310/.393/.510 with 20 homers, 78 RBIs and 80 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.32 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.71, along with a WHIP of 1.18 and a K/9 of 8.22.
The Rays offense has slashed .256/.331/.395 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith have paced Tampa Bay’s hitters. Duffy is hitting .301/.357/.375 with four home runs, 35 RBIs and 47 runs scored. Smith (.307/.377/.433) has produced two homers, 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 27 stolen bases.
The Rays have gained 7.3 units and are 22-16 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 12 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Tampa Bay Rays at Atlanta Braves Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Braves, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in zero of Atlanta’s last seven games.
- Atlanta has posted 19.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.8 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Braves have hit nine over their last 10.
