The Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers will continue a three-game series when they meet again on Tuesday night in Detroit.
Tampa Bay took the opener 4-1 on Monday for its second consecutive victory after beating Baltimore on Sunday, meaning the Tigers' losing streak has now reached six games.
With Tuesday's contest set for 6:40 pm ET, it's time to break down the matchup and discuss the best bets to make.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers betting picks and predictions
Tampa Bay Rays to win (-135)
Even though it takes little more than mediocrity to make the MLB playoffs in the American League, Detroit has waved the white flag on its season. We knew that when the Tigers unloaded Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and – predictably – things have continued to go south in a big way. Detroit is on a five-game losing streak and has dropped eight of its last nine contests.
Detroit is handing the ball to Jackson Jobe, who missed 14 months on the heels of Tommy John surgery before returning earlier this month. Jobe has been decent through three outings (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), but the White Sox targeted him for six earned runs on nine hits (two homers) in 3.2 innings on August 14.
Six of Detroit's last seven losses and 10 of its last 12 have come by multiple runs. In other words, this team isn't just losing; it is failing to even be competitive.
Total - Under 7.5 Runs (-120)
In all likelihood, the Rays will once again be required to rely on their pitching. That's how they have been finding the win column in recent weeks, because their offence has been poor. The visitors have scored no more than four runs in five straight games. In all, Tampa Bay scored a grand total of nine runs in its last nine contests heading into this series.
Fortunately for the Rays, the Tigers' lineup has been even worse. Detroit has scored two runs or fewer on four occasions during its six-game losing streak and has crossed the plate more than three times only once in this futile stretch.
Ian Seymour is taking the mound for Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The left-hander boasts a 9-4 record to go along with a 4.17 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with a 123-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 101.1 innings of work.
Seymour has been especially impressive of late, allowing just 11 earned runs across his past six appearances spanning 33.2 innings.
Overall, the under looks like the smart play.
Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs (-145)
Yandy Diaz is on an absolute heater for the Rays right now. The 35-year-old has hit safely in 25 of his last 64 at-bats (.391) dating back to August 9. During this stretch, he has recorded at least one hit in 14 of 15 games, with eight multi-hit performances. Diaz has also scored a run in three consecutive contests heading into Tuesday's showdown with Detroit.
The designated hitter should have a favorable matchup on his hands against the right-handed Jobe. Diaz, despite being a righty himself, is batting .311 against righties this season compared to .291 against southpaws.
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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers odds
Tampa Bay Rays | -135 |
Detroit Tigers | +115 |
Run Line | TB -1.5 (+135) / DET +1.5 (-160) |
Total | Over 8 (-105) / Under 8 (-115) |
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers player props
Player Home Run Odds
Junior Caminero (TB) | +330 |
Jonathan Aranda (TB) | +540 |
Cedric Mullins (TB) | +560 |
Spencer Torkelson (DET) | +470 |
Eduardo Valencia (DET) | +500 |
Hao-Yu Lee (DET) | +560 |
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers team news
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay could be getting some pitching reinforcement in the near future. Starter Griffin Jax (elbow) and reliever Cole Sulser (back) pitched in rehab assignments with Triple-A Durham last week.
Detroit Tigers
Following the departures of Skubal and Casey Mize at the trade deadline, the rotation is not the only part of Detroit's roster that is depleted. Outfielder Kerry Carpenter (foot) suffered a setback in his rehab last week and outfielder Riley Greene (hamstring) is also on the injured list.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
