Rays vs. Marlins Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays will remain in-state this week for an interleague showdown with the host Miami Marlins. Will Tampa Bay pick up the win in tonight’s series opener as the favored team?
Game Snapshot
967 Tampa Bay Rays at 968 Miami Marlins
Monday, July 2, 2018
Marlins Park at 7:10PM ET
TV: FS-F (MIA)
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Rays are a -130 favorite to win on the moneyline. Miami is a +!20 underdog, while the over-under is set at 7.5 runs. As of Monday afternoon, 73 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting Tampa Bay. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Rays coming in red-hot
Tampa Bay enters in great form, having won eight of its last nine games including three in a row in a four-game home series against Houston. The Rays won Sunday afternoon’s finale by a count of 3-2. Blake Snell was stellar on the mound as he allowed one earned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk over 7 1/3 innings. Sergio Romo allowed a solo home run and a walk in the ninth inning, but held on for his eighth save. Joey Wendle went 2-for-4 and scored a run from the top of the lineup. Matt Duffy was 1-for-4 and drove in two, while Carlos Gomez was also 2-for-4. Mallex Smith went 2-for-4 as well and hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot.
Marlins unable to secure home sweep
Miami won the first two games of its home series against the Mets over the weekend, but dropped Sunday afternoon’s finale by a count of 5-2. Dan Straily took the loss as he allowed three earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks over seven innings. J.T. Realmuto was 2-for-4 to help pace the offense. Cameron Maybin was 1-for-4 with a solo home run, which was his first of the season. Miguel Rojas was 1-for-4 with a double and scored a run.
Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 4.08 ERA) will start today for Tampa Bay, while Miami counters with Wei-Yin Chen (2-5, 6.14).
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 7-1 in their last eight Monday games. Tampa Bay is 2-11 in its last 13 road games.
Miami
The Marlins are 11-4 in Chen’s last 15 home starts. Miami is 4-9 in the last 13 meetings.
Prediction:
Chen is typically better at home, but still a poor pitcher and faces a Rays offense that has heated up considerably recently. Eovaldi should provide sufficient innings against a weak Marlins offense and I believe he’ll get enough run support to make up for any mistakes. Take the Rays here.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS -130