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The San Diego Padres (76-60) and Tampa Bay Rays (66-67) open a 3-game set at Tropicana Field Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET (Apple TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Padres vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Padres won 2-1 last year
The Padres split a 4-game set at the St. Louis Cardinals. They wrapped up the series with a 4-1 loss as +101 underdogs Thursday with the Under (7.5) hitting. San Diego is in the 2nd NL Wild Card spot, 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves.
The Rays are coming off a 2-1 series loss at the Seattle Mariners. They lost 6-2 in the Wednesday finale as the Over (6.5) cashed. Tampa Bay is 6 games back of the Minnesota Twins for the final AL Wild Card and has just a 1.8% chance to make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.com.
Padres at Rays projected starters
LHP Martín Pérez vs. RHP Taj Bradley
Pérez (3-5, 4.60 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.51 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 7.1 K/9 in 109 2/3 IP with the Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Last start: No-decision, 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K in 3-2 home victory over New York Mets Sunday
- Pulled early against Mets Sunday after walking 3 straight batters to load bases in 4th inning
- 2024 road stats: 1-3, 5.82 ERA (43 1/3 IP, 28 ER), 1.62 WHIP, 6.6 K/9 in 8 starts with Padres and Pirates
- Career vs. Rays: 4-7, 5.98 ERA (87 1/3 IP, 58 ER), 1.57 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 in 19 appearances (16 starts), including 0-1 with 18.90 ERA (3 1/3 IP, 7 ER) in 1 start last year
Bradley (6-8, 3.77 ERA) makes his 20th start. He has a 1.16 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 10.0 K/9 in 107 1/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 5 ER (6 R), 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 9-8 victory in 10 innings at Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday
- 2024 home stats: 3-5, 2.83 ERA (57 1/3 IP, 18 ER), 1.01 WHIP, 12.6 K/9 in 10 starts
- Has never faced Padres
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Padres at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:13 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Padres +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Rays -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Padres -1.5 (+170) | Rays +1.5 (-225)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Padres at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Padres 5, Rays 4
Moneyline
The PADRES (+105) have the 2nd-best record as away underdogs this season at 22-14 straight up. Pérez is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA (26 2/3 IP, 8 ER) in 5 starts since being acquired by San Diego, and the Padres have gone 5-0 in his outings.
The Rays have less than a 2% chance to make the playoffs and are 1-4 in Bradley’s last 5 starts. In his last start — Saturday at the Dodgers — they had just a 7.8% win probability, according to ESPN Analyics, in the bottom of the 7th inning and were somewhat lucky to even escape with that victory.
Bradley is 0-3 with an 8.14 ERA (21 IP, 19 ER) in 4 August starts and shouldn’t be trusted as the Rays start planning their offseason vacations.
BET PADRES (+105).
Run line/Against the spread
Just 3 of the Padres’ last 9 games have resulted in multi-run wins for San Diego. Tampa Bay +1.5 (-225) likely covers, but this line has way too much vig to consider playing.
PASS. Bet the ML and/or total instead.
Over/Under
At such a low number, my lean is to the Over with Bradley coming off 5 consecutive starts allowing 3 or more runs. However, with the new-and-improved Pérez taking the mound for San Diego, I have no interesting in betting this Over unless it drops to a flat 7.
LEAN OVER 7.5 (-115).
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