Tampa Bay Rays (53-37) vs. Atlanta Braves (44-45)
July 16, 2021 7:20 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Braves -130 / Tampa Bay Rays +120; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves meet Friday in MLB action at Truist Park. The Rays look for a win after winning six of their last seven games. The Braves look for a win after splitting their last eight games.
The Tampa Bay Rays have scored 13 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in six of their last seven games. The Rays have won nine of their last 11 games when scoring four or more runs. Randy Arozarena leads the Rays with 79 hits and 41 RBI while Austin Meadows and Joey Wendle have combined for 144 hits and 91 RBI. Michael Wacha gets the ball, and he is 2-2 with a 4.87 ERA and 50 strikeouts this season. Wacha is 0-4 with a 4.71 ERA and 25 strikeouts in his career against the Braves.
The Atlanta Braves have scored 14 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in six of their last 10 games. The Braves have won seven of their last eight games when scoring four or more runs. Freddie Freeman leads the Braves with 90 hits and 50 RBI while Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley have combined for 173 hits and 103 RBI. Charlie Morton gets the ball, and he is 8-3 with a 3.64 ERA and 114 strikeouts this season. Morton is 2-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 37 strikeouts in his career against the Rays.
The Rays are 1-10 in their last 11 road games and 6-1 in their last 7 overall. The Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 home games and 0-7 in their last 7 interleague home games. The under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 overall. The over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 overall. The Rays are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Atlanta.
I understand the Braves are going to be favored at home more times than not and Charlie Morton has been more than respectable this season. Michael Wacha has also been hit or miss this season. However, we’re getting plus money with the Rays, one of the best teams in the league and a club that entered the break playing hot. The Braves are also dealing with injuries and are without their best player. You can make money on the Rays, especially with these prices. I’ll take it.
