Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 9-26-24 MLB Picks

In this article we will formulate a Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction for this MLB game on Thursday, September 26th at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Let’s take a look at the prediction for game three in the series.

Detroit Tigers Betting Preview

The Detroit Tigers are 84-74 this season and they have won four games in a row. Detroit has won the first two games in this series by scores of 2-1 and 7-1. Prior to this series, the Tigers won two out of three against the Orioles, swept the Royals in three games, and won two out of three against the Orioles. Detroit is 8-1 in their last nine games and they are tied for second in the AL Central. 

The Detroit pitching staff has a 3.60 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a .234 opponent batting average. The Tigers’ offense has scored 669 runs with a .235 batting average and a .299 on-base percentage. Riley Greene is batting .264 with 24 home runs and 73 RBI’s for the Tigers this season. 

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 78-80 this year and they have won four of their last six games. Tampa Bay has lost the first two games in this series and they have scored just two runs in the two games. Prior to this series, the Rays swept the Blue Jays, won two out of three against the Red Sox, and split four games with the Guardians. Tampa Bay is 5-3 in their last eight games and they are fourth in the AL East. 

The Tampa Bay pitching staff has a 3.81 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a .236 opponent batting average. The Rays’ offense has scored 591 runs with a .230 batting average and a .303 on-base percentage. Yandy Diaz is batting .282 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI’s for the Rays this season. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Detroit is Reese Olson, who is 4-8 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 108.1 innings pitched this year. Olson has allowed five earned runs and five hits over 5.1 innings of work since coming off of the IL. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Tyler Alexander, who is 6-5 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 102.2 innings pitched this season. Alexander has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his last five outings. 

Why the Tigers will beat the Rays

• The Tigers have won each of their last seven-day games against American League opponents.
• The Rays have lost each of their last four road games.
• The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last seven games after playing the previous day.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last three games after playing the previous day.
• The Tigers have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games at Comerica Park against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
• The Tigers have led after 5 innings in each of their last seven-day games at Comerica Park against AL East opponents.

Why the Rays will beat the Tigers

• The Rays have won seven of their last eight-day games following a loss.
• The Tigers have lost four of their last five home games against the Rays following a home win.
• The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last nine Thursday games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six home games against the Rays following a win.

Total Runs Facts

• Ten of the Rays’ last 11 games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Tigers’ last seven home games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last 11-day games against AL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Tigers’ last 10-day games.

Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts

• Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Spencer Torkelson has hit a home run in each of the Tigers’ last two home games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Zach McKinstry has recorded at least one Single in 10 of his last 11 appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Wenceel Perez has scored a run in each of his last seven appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Riley Greene has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Tigers’ last five games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight Thursday appearances.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight Thursday appearances.
• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in each of the Rays’ last two-day games.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in four of his last five appearances at Comerica Park.

Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction 

Detroit was able to pick up another win on Wednesday night and they continue to play great baseball over the last two months. The Tigers are 41-36 at home this year, while the Rays are 36-41 on the road. Detroit is currently tied for the second AL Wild Card spot with the Royals, so every game is very important for them. I don’t love this pitching matchup, as Olson is still trying to get back on track after his injury and Alexander has struggled for most of the year, so I think we could see a good amount of runs in this game. Take the over.