The Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays meet Saturday in MLB action at Tropicana Field. Here’s a Rays vs Nationals Prediction. This article will include a Rays vs Nationals Pick.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Washington Nationals are 39-37 on the year and play the Orioles and Phillies next. The Washington Nationals are batting .247 on the season and have a .321 OBP and a .421 slugging percentage. The Washington Nationals pitching staff has a 4.66 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. James Wood leads the Washington Nationals with 79 hits and 48 RBI, while CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile have combined for 153 hits and 92 RBI.
The Washington Nationals didn’t announce a starting pitcher at the time this article was published.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 42-30 on the year and play the Royals and Diamondbacks next. The Tampa Bay Rays are batting .256 on the season, have a .333 OBP, and have a .381 slugging percentage. The Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff has a 3.92 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Yandy Diaz leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 85 hits and 47 RBI, while Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero have combined for 146 hits and 84 RBI.
Ian Seymour gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 3-0 with a 4.93 ERA and 41 strikeouts this season. This will be Seymour’s second career game against the Washington Nationals.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Nationals have lost each of their last seven road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- The home team has won 11 of the Rays’ last 12 games.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- The Rays have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games against the Nationals.
- The Nationals have lost the first inning in three of their last four games at Tropicana Field against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Nationals have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last seven road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- The Nationals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last seven road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
Why the Washington Nationals will win
- The Nationals have won seven of their last eight games as road underdogs following a road loss.
- The Rays have lost four of their last five games as favorites following a win.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine day games against NL East opponents following a home win.
- The Nationals have covered the run line in 12 of their last 13 road games following a road loss.
- The Nationals have led after 3 innings in seven of their last eight Saturday games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Nationals have led after 5 innings in four of their last five day games against opponents that held a winning record.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Rays’ last four games against NL East opponents has gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Nationals’ last seven games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Rays’ last five day games.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of Miles Mikolas’s last four appearances as a starter.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in six of his last 10 home appearances against NL East opponents.
- Taylor Walls has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances with the Rays as favorites.
- Yandy Diaz is one of only two players to hit over .300 and have 45+ RBIs this season.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- CJ Abrams has hit a home run in three of the Nationals’ last four road games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 road appearances against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Nasim Nunez ranks 2nd in the league in Steals (27) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rays rank 30th in the league for home runs this season (60).
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (520).
- The Nationals rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (409).
- The Nationals rank 1st in the league for RBIs this season (388).
Rays vs Nationals Prediction
I’ve backed the Nationals a lot this season, but this is a tough spot because I don’t know who is on the mound. Also, the Rays have been ridiculous at home this season, so this is a spot I’m excited to step in front of them, honestly. Seymour has been hit this season, but most of his struggles have come on the road. In 21.1 home innings, Seymour has a 2.95 ERA and a .141 batting average allowed. Low price, I have to roll with the Rays.