Nationals vs. Rays Tuesday Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays are on a four-game tear but they’ll face Max Scherzer on Tuesday afternoon when they conclude their two-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals. What’s the best play for bettors?
Game Snapshot & Odds
971 Washington Nationals (-200) at 972 Tampa Bay Rays (+185); 7 runs
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
12:10 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field
TV: WSH (MASN); TB (FS SUN)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Nationals as a -200 favorite. As of this writing, 70% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Nationals to beat the Rays on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Nationals’ Scherzer strikes out nine over seven strong innings
Max Scherzer struck out nine while allowing a pair of solo home runs over seven innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Orioles. Scherzer served up solo dongs to Colby Rasmus and Mark Trumbo but gave up just three other hits and walked just one on the evening. The start was the fifth in a row in which he allowed two or fewer runs while striking out nine or more, but he’s just 2-2 in that span despite being 10-3 overall. He continues to lead the league in most every pitching category, ranking first in the NL with those 10 wins while his 152 strikeouts are also tops in the league. He’ll carry a stout 2.09 ERA and 0.85 WHIP into a tasty Tuesday matchup with the Rays.
Rays’ Eovaldi allows four home runs in loss to Astros
Nathan Eovaldi let in four runs in six innings and was charged with a loss to the Astros on Wednesday. He teed up four solo home runs in the contest: Jose Altuve got him in the fourth inning, then George Springer, Alex Bregman and Altuve took him deep in back-to-back-to-back fashion in the sixth inning. Eovaldi falls to 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts this year. He’s given up eight home runs in just 29 1/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are 1-5 in their last six games played at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay
The Rays have won seven straight at home and four straight overall entering play on Tuesday.
Prediction:
Over their past seven games, the Rays own a +13 run differential while the Nationals are -20 over their last seven games. But with Scherzer on the hill for Washington, I neither want to risk a money line play on Tampa Bay, nor lay -200 or -1.5 on a struggling Washington club. Thus, the total offers the most value. Even when playing well the Rays don’t hit. The under is 5-0 in Scherzer’s last five starts overall and is 8-3-1 in his last 12 road outings. Home runs are a concern with Eovaldi but the under is 4-1 in his last five starts and is 10-3 in the Rays’ last 13 games so I still feel as though the under is the best play here.
The Pick: Nationals/Rays under 7