New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

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

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers Draft Prep and full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

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)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

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.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Tampa Bay Rays (14-18) welcome the New York Mets (16-15) to Tropicana Field for the 1st game of a 3-game series Friday. First pitch is set for 6:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Mets vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Mets won 2-1 last season

The Rays lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 Wednesday, closing as -103 underdogs. They have lost 5 of their last 6 games and are 11-21 against the spread (ATS) on the season. Tampa Bay is 8-9 straight up at home.

The Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 Thursday, winning 2 of 4 in that series. They have won 3 of their last 4 road series and are 7-5 away from home. New York is 16-15 ATS on the season.

Mets at Rays projected starters

LHP Jose Quintana vs. RHP Aaron Civale

Quintana (1-2, 3.48 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.34 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 in 33 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 4-2 home win vs. St. Louis Cardinals Sunday
  • 2024 road splits: 1-1, 5.06 ERA, 16 IP, 9 ER, 17 H (2 HR), 9 BB, 12 K in 3 starts
  • Career vs. Tampa Bay: 1-4, 4.09 ERA (44 IP, 20 ER), 1.36 WHIP in 8 starts and 1 relief appearance — last faced Rays in 2021

Civale (2-2, 5.06 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 in 32 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 8-7 road loss vs. Chicago White Sox Saturday
  • 2024 home splits: 1-1, 8.36 ERA, 14 IP, 13 ER, 20 H (2 HR), 6 BB, 12 K in 3 starts
  • Career vs. New York: 0-1, 3.18 ERA (5 2/3 IP, 2 ER), 0.71 WHIP, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 1 start, a 5-4 road loss April 21

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers Draft Prep and full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

Mets at Rays odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:28 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Mets +116 (bet $100 to win $116) | Rays -136 (bet $136 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread: Mets +1.5 (-196) | Rays -1.5 (+162)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -106 | U: -114)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Mets at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Mets 4, Rays 3

Moneyline

BET METS (+116).

The Rays have struggled to rebound over the last few weeks. Since April 26, they have lost 5 of 6 games. Tampa Bay has lost Civale’s last 2 starts.

The Mets have the more experienced starter on the mound as well. New York has performed well on the road and won outright in 3 of its last 5 games. It has won 4 of Quintana’s last 5 starts.

Considering those trends, back METS (+116).

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

The Mets are far too expensive as run-line underdogs, while the the Rays are too risky as run-line favorites. Ultimately, the moneyline is the better play here.

Over/Under

LEAN UNDER 8 (-114).

The Mets are 15-16 O/U on the season, and they are 3-7 O/U in their last 10 games. New York has scored 4 or fewer runs in 6 of its last 7 games, and it has tallied 0 or 1 in 2 of its last 4.

The Rays are 18-13-1 O/U on the season but are 1-2-1 O/U in their last 4 games. They are also struggling offensively, having scored 2 or fewer runs in 4 straight games.

Given the sluggish offenses, take UNDER 8 (-114).

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]