The Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers meet Monday in MLB action from American Family Field. Here’s a Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Rays are coming off a weekend series versus the Chicago White Sox. Tampa Bay took losses 9-4 and 8-7 in the first pair. On Sunday in the finale, the Rays gave up 12 hits in a 4-2 loss. Zack Littell managed 6.0 innings in the starting role with eight hits, two earned, no walks and six strikeouts.
As starting pitcher for the Monday opener, the Rays are going with Ryan Pepiot. This year in his five starts Pepiot is 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 28.2 innings. Pepiot is 7-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 22 career games (15 starts).
Milwaukee Brewers Betting Preview
Over on the Brewers’ side, they played the New York Yankees over the weekend. Milwaukee split the first pair in that set 7-6 (win) and 15-3 (loss). On Sunday the Brewers gave up 18 hits in a rough blowout loss 15-5. Tobias Myers went 5.0 innings in the start with four earned on five hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
In the starter slot for the Brewers on Monday it’ll be Bryse Wilson. Over eight games (two starts) so far Wilson is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA. He has 15 Ks in 18.0 total innings. Wilson is 17-17 with a 4.73 ERA in 117 career games (45 starts).
Rays vs Brewers Injury Notes
Rays RF Josh Lowe was not activated off the 10-day Injured List over the weekend due to tightness in his right hamstring. Lowe had been nursing an oblique injury. RP Pete Fairbanks has no structural damage to his injured arm.
Brewers SP Wade Miley was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow back on Friday. Miley will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Milwaukee Brewers Team Facts
- The Brewers have won each of their last 10 games as favorites against AL East opponents following a loss.
- The Brewers have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine games as home favorites against American League opponents.
- The Brewers have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five home night games.
- The Brewers have lost the first inning in each of their last four games.
- The Brewers have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games at American Family Field against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts
- The underdogs have won each of the Rays’ last six games.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Rays’ last eight games.
- The Rays have lost the first inning in each of their last four games at American Family Field.
- The Rays have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last six games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll probably just stay with the Rays in this one. Pepiot has been pitching well lately—since taking a loss to the Giants on April 13 with four earned in 5.0 innings, that is. In his last pair Pepiot is 1-0 with two earned on six hits and five walks in 12.0 total frames. As for Wilson, he’s given up two earned runs on five hits and four walks in his last three outings over 9.1 innings.
In their Sunday finale the Rays had a bit of a shaky outing from Manuel Rodriguez (1.1 innings; four hits; two earned) in a relief role. There wasn’t a lot going on offensively either, outside of Isaac Paredes’ solo homer and two runs. Tampa Bay is coming off a pretty embarrassing sweep over the weekend and they’ve won just once in their last seven games. I like the Rays to rally around Pepiot, but I’m probably not touching this one.