Tampa Bay Rays (78-48) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (63-62)
August 25, 2021 7:05 pm EDT
The Line: Philadelphia Phillies -147 / Tampa Bay Rays +110; Over/Under: -8.5
(Click here for latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies meet Wednesday in MLB action at Citizens Bank Park. The Rays look for a win after winning seven of their last eight games. The Phillies need a win after losing six of their last eight games.
The Tampa Bay Rays have scored 20 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in eight of their last nine games. The Rays have won eight of their last 10 games when scoring four or more runs. Randy Arozarena leads the Rays with 116 hits and 54 RBI while Austin Meadows and Brandon Lowe have combined for 199 hits and 163 RBI. Ryan Yarbrough gets the ball, and he is 7-4 with a 4.57 ERA and 101 strikeouts this season. Yarbrough is 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA and 14 strikeouts in his career against the Phillies.
The Philadelphia Phillies have scored 11 runs in their last three games and three or less runs in five of their last seven games. The Phillies have lost six straight games when scoring three or less runs. Jean Segura leads the Phillies with 109 hits and 41 RBI while Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins have combined for 200 hits and 122 RBI. Zack Wheeler gets the ball, and he is 10-8 with a 2.77 ERA and 194 strikeouts this season. Wheeler is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts in his career against the Rays.
The Rays are 5-2 in their last 7 Wednesday games and 10-4 in their last 14 road games. The Phillies are 1-6 in their last 7 Wednesday games and 2-5 in their last 7 overall. The over is 17-5-1 in Rays last 23 overall. The under is 11-2-2 in Phillies last 15 overall. The Rays are 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in Philadelphia.
The Phillies should be favored because Wheeler has been one of the better pitchers in the NL this season. However, we’re getting plus money with the Rays, one of the best teams in baseball. For some reason the Rays don’t get respect from oddsmakers, and yet they have the third best record in baseball and the best record in the AL. The Phillies are still slumping. Give me the Rays based on the value.
