The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Friday in MLB action from Steinbrenner Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Rays vs Dodgers Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Los Angeles Dodgers will start Clayton Kershaw here, and Kershaw is 4-2 with a 3.62 ERA and 39 strikeouts this season. In his career, Kershaw is 2-0 with a 4.44 ERA and 27 strikeouts against the Rays. Shane Baz will get the start here for Tampa Bay and is 8-7 with a 4.61 ERA and 119 strikeouts this season. This will be Baz’s first career start against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Recap
The Los Angeles Dodgers come into this game looking to bounce back from a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds to slip to 63-46 on the year. After this series, the Dodgers will head home for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Dodgers Looking To Rebound
Shohei Ohtani has 113 hits, including 13 doubles, 38 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 7 triples, while Tommy Edman has 67 hits with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. Michael Conforto has 57 hits with 16 doubles, while Teoscar Hernandez has 85 hits with 16 home runs, 20 doubles, and 64 RBIs as well this season. Ohtani has a team-high 13 stolen bases, while Max Muncy has 10 doubles but also has 69 strikeouts so far this season. Mookie Betts has also chipped in 11 home runs and 46 RBIs on the year. Freddie Freeman has also logged 107 hits with a team-high 27 doubles, 11 home runs, and 56 RBIs. Andy Pages also has 111 hits with 17 doubles, 19 home runs, and 64 RBIs this season.
Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win
- The Dodgers have won each of their last nine Friday night games against AL East opponents.
- The Rays have lost 10 of their last 11 games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine home games after playing the previous day.
- The Dodgers have covered the run line in each of their last four night games against AL East opponents following a loss.
Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts
- Will Smith has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances in night games.
- Clayton Kershaw has recorded four or more strikeouts in 63 of his last 68 Friday appearances with the Dodgers as favorites.
- Clayton Kershaw has recorded a win in seven of his last eight road appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Shohei Ohtani has hit a home run in each of his last four appearances against the Rays after not playing the previous day.
- Andy Pages has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with the Dodgers as favorites against AL East opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays will be out to rebound from a 7-4 loss at the hands of the Yankees on Thursday to sit at 54-56 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a series against the Angels.
Rays Drop Three Straight & 7 Of Last 8
Jonathan Aranda has 113 hits with 22 doubles, 12 home runs, and 54 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 91 hits with 19 homers and 51 RBIs as well, while Junior Caminero has 103 hits with 20 doubles, a team-high 27 home runs, and 71 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 117 hits with 19 doubles, 18 homers, and 62 RBIs.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Rays have won each of their last four games as underdogs against NL West opponents.
- The Dodgers have lost five of their last seven games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last six games as home underdogs against NL West opponents.
- The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight Friday games as favorites.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last five games as home underdogs against NL opponents.
- Taylor Walls has recorded a Double in each of the Rays’ last three games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 10 home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Junior Caminero ranks T6th in the league in Home Runs (27) this season.
Total Runs Facts
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- Seven of the Dodgers’ last eight road games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the last six games between the Dodgers and Rays have gone OVER the total runs line.
Rays vs Dodgers Prediction
I’m on the over here. The Rays have been struggling, but this is a team that can still contribute some runs on the board, as we saw in their series against the Yankees. We also saw that the once proud and stingy Rays bullpen is now prone to giving up runs. On the other side, I think Clayton Kershaw struggles here, but the Dodgers’ offense has been coming alive and can back him up here. All in all, I think this ends up being a high-scoring game, so give me the over here.