The Detroit Tigers will take the field against the Tampa Bay Rays in a Saturday showdown. This AL showdown will begin at 6:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Detroit will broadcast the game.
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Tampa Bay (-280) is the huge favorite against Detroit (+240) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total now stand at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at +115 for the Tigers +1.5 runs and -135 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 71-52 straight up (SU) and 64-58 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a lot for gamblers, gaining 0.0 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 1.3 units ATS. The Tigers are 37-82 SU and have gone 47-71 against the spread. In total, the club has lost 33.0 units for moneyline bettors and 33.1 units ATS.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 56-59-7 in 2019. Detroit has an over/under record of 53-57-8.
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is getting the start for the visiting Tigers. Zimmermann (1-8, 7.13 ERA) has recorded 52 punchouts in 72 innings so far. He has yet to face Tampa Bay this year, but he did make two starts against the team in 2018, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.63 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Rays are handing the ball to lefty Ryan Yarbrough (11-3, 3.56 ERA), who has 78 strikeouts and 13 walks, along with a WHIP of 0.90. Yarbrough did not register a start against the Tigers in 2018.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The team’s starters have an ERA of 3.41, a WHIP of 1.11 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.3. The bullpen has a 3.71 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 4.0 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .246/.325/.374 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia have led the Rays’ batters this year. Pham is slashing .266/.365/.445 with 17 home runs, 51 RBIs, 54 runs and 13 steals, and Garcia’s line sits at .278/.335/.459 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.23 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.49 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.11, along with a K-per-9 of 8.23.
Tigers hitters have slashed .237/.297/.387 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s hitters have been led by Miguel Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos. Cabrera is slashing .281/.342/.395 with nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 32 runs scored, while Castellanos (.273/.328/.462) has produced 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
The Tigers have lost 1.2 units and are 13-12 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 4.5 units and are 37-40 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 36 of those games, compared to 36 that went under the total.
Tigers vs. Rays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in four of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Tigers have an OPS of .683 this season and an OPS of .728 against left-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS sits at .760 overall and .747 against lefties.
- Detroit has recorded 22.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.4 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 12 over their last 10.
