The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the New York Mets at Citi Field. SportsNet New York is in line to televise this interleague matchup and the game gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Mets Odds
New York (+125) is coming into this one as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-135) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this day game at 7.5 runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). The games current runline odds sit at +110 for picking the Rays -1.5 runs and -130 for the Mets +1.5.
The Mets are only 35-50 straight up (SU) and 35-48 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 16.6 units for moneyline bettors and 19.3 units (ATS). On the other hand, the Rays have gone 44-44 SU this year and are 50-37 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 5.4 units for moneyline bettors and 12.3 units ATS.
Mets games have an over/under record of 35-44-4 thus far in 2018. Tampa Bay has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 35-49-3.
Nathan Eovaldi is getting the nod for Tampa Bay. The right-handed Eovaldi is 2-3 with a 3.92 ERA and 35 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Mets this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Mets will turn to righty Chris Flexen (0-1, 10.80 ERA), who’s got one strikeouts and three walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 3.60. Flexen did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
New York’s pitching staff has given up 4.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.91, a WHIP of 1.26 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.3. The bullpen has a 4.85 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.6 K/9.
New York’s offense is putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 3.7 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .222/.326/.401 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and shortstop Amed Rosario have led the Mets offense this year. Cabrera is hitting .283/.330/.483 with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and 39 runs scored, and Rosario’s line is .236/.283/.349 with four homers, 21 RBIs and 29 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.67 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8.70 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.46, along with a K-per-9 of 8.05.
The Rays offense has slashed .249/.323/.381 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game this year, including 2.7 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the teams last five contests (2-3 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos continue to lead Tampa Bay’s hitters. Duffy is hitting .309/.357/.414 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Ramos (.289/.340/.462) has produced 12 homers, 47 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
The Rays have lost 0.4 units and are 32-27 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 26 of those games, compared to 31 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Mets have lost 10.9 units and are 24-36 ATS when facing a righty starter. The overs hit in 25 of those games, compared to 31 that went under.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Mets Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in just one of Tampa Bay’s last seven contests.
- New York has recorded 17.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.8 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit three home runs in their last 10 games, including two over their last five.
