The Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays square off Tuesday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Chicago Cubs will send out Jameson Taillon here and Taillon is 3-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 35 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Rays, Taillon is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 29 strikeouts. The Tampa Bay Rays will trot out Zach Eflin here and Eflin is 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA and 47 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Cubs, Eflin is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Chicago Cubs Recap
The Chicago Cubs come into this series looking to build some momentum after salvaging a win from their series with the Reds over the weekend thanks to a 4-2 win in Sunday’s series finale. The series loss however, meant that the Cubs were unable to build on their two-game sweep of the White Sox early last week.
Cubs Still Having Offensive Inconsistencies At The Plate
Cody Bellinger leads the Cubs with 54 hits including 11 doubles, 8 home runs and 29 RBIs. Nico Hoerner has 53 hits, 13 doubles and a .252 batting average while Christopher Morel has a team-high 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. Michael Busch has 8 homers with 23 RBIs but also has the unfortunate distinction of leading the Cubs with 73 strikeouts as well this season.
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The road team has won each of the Rays’ last seven games.
- The Rays have lost each of their last four games.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games at Tropicana Field.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the Rays’ last seven games.
- The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five home games.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays need a feel good victory to wash the bad taste out of their mouths after being swept in a four-game set by the Baltimore Orioles at home over the weekend after a 5-2 loss in Monday’s series finale. It was the second series loss in a week for the Rays against Baltimore, with a series win against the Marlins sandwiched in the middle.
Rays Trying To Find Their Footing
Isaac Paredes leads the Rays across the board with 65 hits, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and a .288 batting average as well as a .371 OBP with 13 doubles. Yandy Diaz has 65 hits with 12 doubles while Jose Caballero has a team-high 22 stolen bases. Randy Arozarena has 8 home runs and 20 RBIs along with a team-high 70 strikeouts and 7 stolen bases.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Cubs have lost each of their last seven road games following a win.
- The Rays have won each of their last six night games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 11 games following a win.
- The Rays have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 night games against National League opponents.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games against American League opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction
I’m on the Rays here. Not one I’m rushing to bet, but the Rays are a better team than what we saw against the Orioles, it was just a case of the Rays running into the buzzsaw that is the Baltimore Orioles right now. The Cubs have a nice record, but there are times where they look completely inept offensively and they did not look good at the plate in the set against Cincinnati in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in baseball. I think the Rays get it done at home here, so I’m going to roll with Tampa Bay.