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Tigers vs. Rays Prediction and Odds for Wednesday May 18 (Tampa Has Advantage on Mound and at Plate)

By Matt De Saro

Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.
Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Rasmussen. / Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages
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The Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers close out their three-game series on Wednesday at Tropicana Field. The Tigers continue to be one of the biggest disappointments in the MLB after entering this series at 12-23. They did manage to win Game 1 of this series 3-2, but it makes little difference to me.

The Tigers are still among the worst teams in the league and I think that shows in this series finale, at least at the plate where Detroit is hitting just .224 on the season. 

Despite all of this, the Tigers do have some bright spots and Eduardo Rodriguez, today’s starter, is certainly one of them. He enters this finale with a 3.72 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Truth be told, he's pitching better than those numbers suggest with an ERA of 2.37 in his last two games.

If the Tigers have a chance to win this game, it is because of Rodriguez. 

Here are the odds for this game, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Tigers vs. Rays Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line

  • Tigers: +1.5 (-200)
  • Rays: -1.5 (+170)

Moneyline:

  • Tigers: +110
  • Rays: -130

Total:

  • Total 6.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Tigers vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

While Rodriguez gives the Tigers their best chance to win, the Rays still have an edge on the mound. Drew Rasmussen is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.67 and WHIP of 0.92 over 33 ⅔ innings. In his last three starts, his ERA is 1.72 in 15 ⅔ innings. Rasmussen doesn't get a ton of strikeouts, but he also doesn’t walk many guys and hasn’t surrendered a home run since April 15.

Additionally, Rasmussen has a habit of pitching much better at home where he has a 1.72 ERA with an OBA of .145. 

Rodriguez, meanwhile, sees his ERA dip to 3.93 on the road where he is 0-1 in three starts. If the Tigers were a better hitting team I might take a chance on them at these odds. But, if they were a better hitting team they wouldn't be +110 to win this game outright I suppose.

So, I’m going to take a chance on the better team with the stronger starter on the mound. 

Pick: Rays ML -130

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE

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