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The New York Mets (16-16) and Tampa Bay Rays (15-18) play the middle contest of a 3-game interleague series Saturday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Mets vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 1-0
The Mets lost a wild interleague series opener Friday. New York went ahead 3-0 in the top of the 2nd, but fell behind 9-3 after 4 innings. The Mets made a game of it, closing to within 9-7 after the top of the 5th inning, but that’s as close as they’d get, losing 10-8.
The Rays halted a 2-game losing skid with the win Friday. Despite the victory, Tampa Bay is still a dismal 3-8 in the past 11 games since April 21, including 2-2 at home. The Over is 2-0-1 in the past 3 games, and 7-3-1 in the previous 11 contests.
Mets at Rays projected starters
RHP Christian Scott vs. RHP Zack Littell
Scott (3-0, 3.20 ERA) made 5 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. He has a 0.71 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, 12.8 K/9 in 25 1/3 IP in the minors.
- Is making his major league debut
Littell (1-2, 3.27 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.36 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 in 33 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 4-2 road loss vs. Chicago White Sox last Sunday
- 2024 home splits: 1-1, 4.08 ERA, 17 2/3 IP, 9 R (8 ER), 21 H (3 HR), 2 BB, 20 K with .292 opponents’ batting average and 1.30 WHIP in 3 starts
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Mets 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 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mets +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Rays -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mets +1.5 (-225) | Rays -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Mets at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 4, Mets 3
Moneyline
Back the RAYS (-120).
The future is now for the Mets (+100), as the organization’s player development bears fruit with Scott coming up to make his MLB debut.
However, the play is on the RAYS (-120), as Littell has been one of the team’s best starting pitchers in a trying season to date. He has allowed 3 or fewer runs in 5 of his 6 outings, and he hasn’t allowed a homer in 4 of his starts.
Run line/Against the spread
If you like Tampa Bay, just bet it straight up on the moneyline. They’re just 12-21 on the RL.
AVOID.
Over/Under
UNDER 7.5 (-110) is worth a look in this middle game of the interleague series.
We had a high-scoring game Friday, but Littell has managed to keep scores down. While we’re not entirely sure how great Scott will be, and how long he’ll hang around, the lean is to go low. The Under is 4-2 in the past 6 games for the Mets despite Friday’s game.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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