The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to avoid losing their fourth straight game they play host to the Philadelphia Phillies at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Sun will televise this interleague matchup. The opening pitch will be at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Philadelphia (+130) is hosting this game as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-140) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this game at 8 runs. The odds for wagering on the games total sit at -105 for the over and -115 for the under. The games current runline odds stand at -170 for taking the Phillies +1.5 runs and +150 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Rays are just 3-11 SU and 7-6 ATS. They’ve lost 6.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 0.1 units against the spread (ATS). Tampa Bay has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Phillies are 8-5 SU and have gone 3-9 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 1.0 unit for moneyline gamblers this year, but have lost 7.8 units ATS. Philadelphia is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have had an over/under record of 7-6 so far in 2018. The Phillies have an over/under record of 5-6-1.
The Phillies have gained 3.0 units and are 2-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 4.3 units and are 3-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to four which went under the total.
The right-handed Ben Lively (0-1, 5.56 ERA) will get the start for Philadelphia. Lively started 15 games last year and finished the season 4-7 overall with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.
The Rays are turning to lefty Ryan Yarbrough (0-0, 2.25 ERA), who also did not record any Major League pitching stats in 2017.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 5.1 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.20, a WHIP of 1.41 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 4.43 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.8 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s offense has put up 3.1 runs per contest, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .250/.356/.335 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and second baseman Joey Wendle have led the Rays offense so far. Robertson is hitting .316/.536/.368 with six hits, one RBI and six runs scored, and Wendle is batting .278 with 10 hits, four RBIs and four runs.
In the other dugout, Philadelphia’s pitching staff allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.34 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.08, along with a K-per-9 of 8.55.
The Phillies offense has slashed .231/.323/.398 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.7 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the teams last five contests (5-0 SU).
Philadelphia’s hitters have been led by outfielder Rhys Hoskins and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Hoskins is slashing .317/.442/.585 with 13 hits, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored, while Hernandez (.277/.424/.447) is up to 13 hits, two homers, four RBIs and nine runs scored.
Hernandez taken a step back when hitting left-handed pitchers on the road last year. Over 91 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .222/.308/.358 (compared to his overall season line of .296/.376/.425).
Philadelphia Phillies at Tampa Bay Rays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Phillies, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Phillies have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- Tampa Bay has averaged 18.9 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 contests and 19.8 over its last five.
- The Phillies have won seven of their last eight games SU.
