In this article we will formulate a Rays vs Tigers prediction for this MLB game on Sunday, June 22nd at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 43-34 this year after they won the first two games in this series by scores of 14-8 and 8-3. In their game two win, Tampa Bay scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in the easy win. The Rays recorded eight hits and they committed one error in the game, while they were led by Walls, who went 1-4 with two RBIs in the win. Tampa Bay started Pepiot, who allowed three hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings for the win, while Gervase, Montgomery, and Kelly finished the last four innings.
Prior to this series, the Rays split four games with the Orioles and swept the Mets in three games before that. Tampa Bay has won seven of their last nine games and they are currently second in the AL East standings. The Tampa Bay pitching staff has a 3.52 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a .234 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 368 runs with a .256 batting average and a .323 on base percentage this season. Junior Caminero has led Tampa Bay with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added 15 home runs and 42 RBIs for the Rays this year. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Zack Littell, who is 6-7 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 92.2 innings pitched this year.
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The Detroit Tigers are 48-30 this season after they lost game two by a score of 8-3 on Saturday afternoon. Detroit allowed seven runs in the first four innings of the game, as their pitching staff let them down once again. The Tigers recorded six hits in the game and they were led by Jones, Dingler, and Rogers, who all had one RBI in the win. Detroit used Gipson-Long as a bulk pitcher, who allowed six hits and four earned runs over 6.1 innings for the loss.
Prior to this series, the Tigers won two out of three against the Pirates, but did lose two out of three against the Reds before that. Detroit has lost five of their last seven games and they are currently first in the AL Central standings. The Detroit pitching staff has a 3.50 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and a .235 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 382 runs with a .251 batting average and a .322 on base percentage this season. Riley Greene has led Detroit with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs, while Spencer Torkelson has added 16 home runs and 48 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Detroit is Casey Mize, who is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 67.0 innings pitched this season.
Why the Tigers will beat the Rays
- The Tigers have won 12 of their last 13 day games against American League opponents following a road loss.
- The Rays have lost four of their last five day games against AL Central opponents following a home win.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last eight Sunday day games against AL East opponents.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight home games following a home win.
- The Tigers have led after 3 innings in four of their last five day games against AL East opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Tigers’ last eight games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Four of the Rays’ last five day games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 13 of the Rays’ last 15 day games against AL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 12 of the Tigers’ last 14 day games against AL East opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Danny Jansen has hit a home run in two of his three previous appearances at George M. Steinbrenner Field against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Josh Lowe has recorded at least one Double in three of his four previous home appearances against the Tigers.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 18 home games against AL opponents.
- Taylor Walls has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances after playing the previous day.
- Taylor Walls has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances with the Rays as favorites against AL opponents.
Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Casey Mize has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances in day games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Casey Mize has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances in day games.
- Colt Keith has hit a home run in two of the Tigers’ last three games as underdogs.
- Parker Meadows has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Parker Meadows has recorded a hit in each of his last nine appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Javier Baez has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances.
- Riley Greene has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Tigers’ last five games against opponents that held a winning record.
Rays vs Tigers Prediction
Tampa Bay comes into this matchup looking for the series sweep, as they have outscored Detroit by a total of 22-11 in the first two games. The Rays are 27-22 at home this year, while the Tigers are 22-18 on the road. Detroit has not played very well over the last week, but they are starting Mize, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. TB is going with Littell, who has allowed 3+ earned runs in three of his last four. Take the Tigers to avoid the sweep with a win here.