Marlins vs. Rays Saturday Prediction
In somewhat a surprise, the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays combined to score 11 runs in their Game 1 matchup on Friday night. Will Game 2 on Saturday evening wind up being the exact opposite for bettors?
Game Snapshot & Odds
979 Miami Marlins (+160) at 980 Tampa Bay Rays (-170); 8 runs
Saturday, July 21, 2018
6:10 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field
TV: MIA (FSFL); TB (FS SUN)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Rays as a -170 favorite. As of this writing, 65% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rays to beat the Marlins 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.
Marlins’ Lopez allows five runs to Brewers
Pablo Lopez surrendered five runs in six innings Tuesday in a loss to the Brewers. Lopez gave the Marlins a quality start against the Mets his first time out, but he’s allowed five runs in back-to-back outings now. He’s not assured of keeping his rotation spot into the second half of the season.
Rays’ Stanek strikes out two in Rays’ opener vs. Astros
Ryne Stanek struck out two in a perfect first inning of work while serving as the Rays’ opener in Saturday’s win over the Astros. Stanek struck out George Springer and induced a pop out from Alex Bregman to begin his inning of work. Jose Altuve then struck for a single, but the 26-year-old right-hander would not allow further escalation of the offensive threat, retiring Evan Gattis via strikeout to finish the inning and get the Rays started on the right track before ceding way to his bullpen brethren for the rest of the contest. While the team’s decision to utilize a reliever as “opener” is forward-thinking enough, it’s a pure zero for fantasy purposes. That’s not a knock on Stanek himself, who has pitched to a respectable 1.78 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 30/13 K/BB ratio in 25 1/3 innings this season.
MLB Betting Trends
Miami
The Marlins have won four of their last five games overall and are 6-2 in their last eight games versus the American League East.
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 17-5 in their last 22 home games but have dropped four of their last five overall.
Prediction:
The under is 6-2-1 in the Rays’ last nine home games, is 4-0-1 in Stanek’s last five home starts and is 4-1-1 in his last six outings overall. The under is also 4-1 in Jeff Nelson’s last five interleague games behind home plate and is 11-3 in his last 14 games behind the dish overall.
The Pick: Marlins/Rays under 8