Mets vs Rays Prediction 8/31/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Mets vs Rays Prediction for this MLB matchup on Monday, August 31^st in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Tampa Bay Rays Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays have an 82-54 record this season and are sitting in 1st place of the AL East. They have a 46-23 home record and are coming off a 5-4 home win against the Padres. They will face the Rangers and the Braves next.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a .260 batting average this season, .329 OBP, and .404 slugging percentage. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Chandler Simpson is the Rays’ best hitter with a .309 batting average. Junior Caminero leads the team in RBI with 87, adding a team-high 37 home runs.

Ian Seymour (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays, with a 9-5 record, 4.21 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP.

New York Mets Preview

The New York Mets have a 61-76 record this season and are sitting in 5th place of the NL East. They have a 29-37 road record and are coming off a 3-6 home loss against the Astros. They will face the Giants and the Marlins next.

The New York Mets have a .236 batting average this season, .306 OBP, and .389 slugging percentage. New York’s pitching staff has a 4.08 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Carson Benge is the Mets’ best hitter with a .277 batting average. Bo Bichette leads the team in RBI with 66, while Juan Soto adds a team-high 22 home runs.

Robert Stock (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Mets, with a 0-3 record, 7.40 ERA, and 1.94 WHIP.

New York Mets @ Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends: August 31, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Ian Seymour      Record this season: 9-5      ERA: 4.21
• Home Record: 4-3
• Last 5 against Mets: –

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

• The Rays have won each of their last 10 games against NL opponents.
• The Mets have lost each of their last eight games at Tropicana Field.
• The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last 12 night games against NL opponents.
• The Mets have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games against the Rays following a loss.
• The Mets have trailed after 3 innings in nine of their last 10 games as road underdogs against AL East opponents.
• The Rays have won the first inning in each of their last three night games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• The Rays have led after 5 innings in each of their last seven night games at Tropicana Field against NL opponents.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Robert Stock      Record this season: 0-3      ERA: 7.40
• Road Record: 0-1
• Last 5 against Rays: 0-0

Why the New York Mets will win

• The Rays have lost five of their last six games as home favorites against NL East opponents following a win.
• The underdogs have won four of the last five games between the Mets and Rays.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 12 home games after playing the previous day.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in 13 of the Rays’ last 14 games at Tropicana Field.
• The Mets have led after 3 innings in five of their last six road games against AL opponents.
• The Mets have led after 5 innings in six of their last seven games against AL opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Rays’ last six games against NL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Mets’ last seven road games against AL opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in nine of the last 10 night games between the Mets and Rays.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Mets’ last four games as road underdogs.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Junior Caminero has hit a home run in five of the Rays’ last six home games against NL opponents.
• Ian Seymour has recorded seven or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Junior Caminero has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 13 games.
• Yandy Diaz ranks 3rd in the league in Hits (157) this season.

New York Mets Player Prop Facts

• Robert Stock has recorded four or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances.
• Carson Benge has recorded at least one hit in each of the Mets’ last 11 road games against AL opponents.
• Luis Torrens has hit a home run in four of his last five road appearances against AL opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Rays rank 1st in the league for batting average this season (.260).
• The Rays rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (953).
• The Mets rank 30th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.306).
• The Mets rank 29th in the league for doubles this season (173).

Mets vs Rays Prediction

The Rays have won their last 6 meetings against the Mets, including their last four meetings in Tampa.

In this Mets vs Rays Prediction, the Rays are coming as -160 home favorites. I like the Rays in this one, as they have been in far better form, with a 6-1 record in their last 7 games, while the Mets are 1-4 in their last 5. The Rays have been one of the best home teams in baseball and the Mets have been bad on the road and terrible against lefties lately. Robert Stock has very bad numbers this season and was torched in his only road start this season, while Seymour has been good at home with a 3.77 ERA. Take the Rays to win.