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The Detroit Tigers (12-10) and Tampa Bay Rays (12-11) open a 3-game series at Tropicana Field Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Tigers vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Rays won 5-1 last year
Detroit is coming off a 2-1 road series win after taking down the Minnesota Twins 6-1 Sunday and cashing as a +110 underdog. LF Riley Greene scored 3 runs, while 2B Buddy Kennedy had a home run and 3 RBIs. RHP Casey Mize pitched 6 scoreless innings to pick up the win.
Tampa Bay is coming off a 2-1 road series loss against the New York Yankees after falling 5-4 Sunday and failing to cash as a +116 underdog. A 3-run 8th inning fell just short of the comeback. RF Amed Rosario scored 2 runs and had 2 RBIs, while RHP Aaron Civale allowed 5 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings to pick up the loss.
Tigers at Rays projected starters
LHP Tarik Skubal vs. RHP Zack Littell
Skubal (2-0, 2.28 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 0.80 WHIP, 1.90 BB/9 and 9.89 K/9 in 23 2/3 innings.
- Tigers are 3-1 in his starts
- Has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 3 of 4 starts
- Has struck out 26 batters this season while walking just 5; he’s projected to set a career-high in K’s at this pace
Littell (1-0, 2.14 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.33 WHIP, 2.14 BB/9 and 9.43 K/9 in 21 innings.
- Rays are 2-2 in his starts
- Has allowed 3 or fewer runs in each appearance and 1 or fewer in 3 of the 4
- Has struck out 22 batters and walked just 4 this year
- Has allowed just 1 home run on the season (against Los Angeles Angels CF Mike Trout)
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Tigers at Rays nickname odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tigers -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Rays -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers -1.5 (+150) | Rays +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Tigers at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 5, Rays 4
Moneyline
BET TIGERS (-115).
The Tigers are coming off a road series win in Minnesota and have had hot bats recently. They have scored 5 or more runs in 3 of their last 4 games while giving up 4 or fewer in each of their last 3.
Skubal has had a hot start to the season and will look to continue that dominance Monday against a Rays team that is 3-3 in its last 6 home games.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
Both pitchers in this game can retire opposing offenses in stunning fashion with both striking out more than 22 batters and walking 5 or fewer in each of their 1st 4 starts. As a result, expect this game to stay close with the value on the spread becoming minimal.
Over/Under
BET OVER 7.5 (-110).
While this game features 2 pitchers who have started the season off hot, 7.5 is too low of a total to be comfortable with.
Detroit has scored 5 or more runs in 3 of its last 4 games and 4 or more in 7 of its last 10.
Tampa Bay has scored 4 or more runs in 4 of its last 8 games and allowed 4 or more in 7 of its last 9.
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