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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers Free Preview 04/30/18

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays are heading north to face the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The game gets underway 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Sun will be airing this AL matchup.

Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers Odds

Tampa Bay (-120) is coming into this one as the favorite over Detroit (+110) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at +125 for the Rays -1.5 runs and -145 for the Tigers +1.5 runs.

Rays vs Tigers

The Rays have gone 12-14 SU this year and are 15-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.3 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season, despite having gained 5.6 units ATS. The Tigers, on the other hand, are 11-15 SU and 13-12 ATS. They’ve lost 1.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 0.1 units ATS.

Tigers games have an over/under record of 12-13 so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has been a decent over bet with a total record of 17-8.

The right-handed Jake Faria will get the nod for the visiting Rays. Faria is 1-1 with a 6.33 ERA and 20 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Tigers this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 1.29 ERA and nine strikeouts across seven innings).

The Tigers are putting the ball in the right hand of Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 7.91 ERA), who has 22 punchouts and five walks as well as a 1.71 WHIP. Zimmermann only made one start against the Rays in 2017 (0-0, 7.50 ERA and four strikeouts across six innings).

Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.58 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.95 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.85, along with a K-per-9 of 8.69.

Rays hitters have slashed .271/.342/.422 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this year, including 6.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).

Tampa Bay’s hitters have been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and second baseman Joey Wendle. Robertson is slashing .355/.500/.597 with 22 hits, eight RBIs and 14 runs scored, while Wendle (.348/.410/.522) has produced 24 hits, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored.

For the home team, Detroit’s pitchers have yielded 4.8 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.10, a WHIP of 1.29 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.0. The bullpen has a 4.67 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.

Detroit’s hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 5.0 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .224/.279/.376 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.

The Tigers’ hitters have been led by first baseman Miguel Cabrera and third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Cabrera is hitting .326/.413/.528 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored, and Candelario’s line is .282/.362/.524 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 16 runs scored.

Compared to his overall season slash line of .249/.329/.397, Cabrera seemed to enjoy hitting at home in 2017, slashing .288/.340/.489 over 250 plate appearances.

The Rays have lost 1.8 units and are 7-8 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 11 of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 0.1 units and are 12-10 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 13 that’ve cashed the under.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER

Notes

Betting Trends

The over has hit in six of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.

Detroit has recorded 23.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.

The Rays have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.

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Written by GMS Previews

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