Tag: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs odds predictions pick betting line spread

The Tampa Bay Rays (39-18) end their 3-game series with the Chicago Cubs (24-30) Wednesday. First pitch from Wrigley Field is at 2:20 ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 2-0

The Rays and Cubs combine to average over 10 runs per game, but this series has been unusual to say the least. The Cubs followed up Monday’s 1-0 victory with a 2-1 win Tuesday and now the Rays are a loss away from being swept for the 1st time this season.

The Cubs bullpen helped seal the victory, allowing 1 hit in 4 innings after RHP Kyle Hendricks showed he has more left in the tank after missing most of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Rays at Cubs projected starters

RHP Zach Eflin vs. LHP Justin Steele

Eflin (7-1, 3.17 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.01 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 in 54 innings.

• Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 B, 0 K in an 6-3 win vs. the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday
• Has a 1.08 OPS when the batter is ahead in the count and a .451 OPS when he is ahead

Steele (6-2, 2.77 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.10 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 65 innings.

• Last start: Loss, 3.2 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, 0 BB, 4 K in a 9-0 loss against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday
• Allowed a total of 2 home runs this season

Rays at Cubs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook;  access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Cubs +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+120) | Cubs +1.5 (-145)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!

Rays at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Rays 4, Cubs 2

Moneyline

The Rays have yet to be swept this season and I’m skeptical it will it come against these Chicago Cubs. Despite not giving up a HR at Wrigley Field this season, Steele allows .260 BA at home versus .209 on the road.

BET RAYS -135.

Run line/Against the spread

Before this series the Cubs lost 10 of their 12 one-run games this season. If the Rays win this game, it’s more likely than not that their margin will be greater than 1 run. I like the spread to boost the odds.

RAYS -1.5 (+120).

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

Over/Under

After 2 low-scoring games, I like the Under again. Certainly there will be more runs than Tuesday, but 8.5 seems a bit high with these pitchers.

Also, the Under has hit in 5 of the Rays last 7 games when they hold their opponent to 2 runs or less runs in their previous game. And the Cubs are 3-1-1 toward the Under in their last 5 games when the O/U was set above 9.

LEAN UNDER 8.5 (+100).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

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

Follow Ethan Matthew on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

The Tampa Bay Rays (39-17) and Chicago Cubs (23-30) play the 2nd game of a 3-game set Tuesday at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 1-0

The Rays lost 1-0 as -118 favorites Monday in the series opener. Tampa Bay was shut out for the 1st time since April 26 and is just 10-10 in its last 20 games.

The Cubs closed as +109 home underdogs in Monday’s win. OF Mike Tauchman drove in the game’s only run on a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning as Chicago ended a 4-game skid.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Rays at Cubs projected starters

LHP Shane McClanahan vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks

McClanahan (8-0, 1.97 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 10.5 K/9 through 64 innings.

• Last outing: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K in a 7-3 win vs. Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday
• Only career start vs. Cubs: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K in a 4-2 road loss April 18, 2022

Hendricks (0-1, 6.23 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He allowed 3 ER on 6 H and 2 BB with 5 K through 4 1/3 innings in his debut vs. the New York Mets Thursday.

• 16 starts in 2022: 4-6 with a 4.80 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 7 K/9 in 84 1/3 IP
• Only career start vs. Rays: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K April 18, 2022

Rays at Cubs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:23 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Rays -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Cubs +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (-115) | Cubs +1.5 (-105)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!

Rays at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Rays 6, Cubs 3

Moneyline

The Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 games after scoring 2 or fewer runs. Tampa Bay (-200) should hit, but there is no need to pay the higher price on the moneyline when the Rays should win by multiple runs. Bet the run line and/or the total instead.

PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

The Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 games after a loss and 5 of their last 6 wins have been by multiple runs. The Cubs have lost 4 of their last 5 home games and each of those losses has been by 3 or more runs.

Tampa Bay should have no problem bouncing back and winning by margin with its advantage at starting pitcher Tuesday.

BET RAYS -1.5 (-115).

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

Over/Under

The Over is 15-3 in Tampa Bay’s last 18 games and 5-1 in its last 6 interleague contests.

The Over has hit in 4 of the Rays’ last 5 road games vs. teams with a losing record. Tampa Bay should be able to score enough runs to help the Over cash Tuesday, even though McClanahan likely won’t give up many to Chicago.

BET OVER 8.5 (-110).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

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

Follow Corey Scott on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup

[lawrence-newsletter]

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

The Tampa Bay Rays (39-16) and Chicago Cubs (22-30) open a 3-game set Monday at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2023; Rays won last season’s series 2-1

The Rays won 11-10 as -122 home favorites vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday. Tampa Bay won the 3-game series 2-1 and has won 4 of its last 5 contests.

The Cubs lost 8-5 as -168 home favorites vs. the Cincinnati Reds Sunday. Chicago was swept in the 3-game set and has lost 4 straight contests.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Rays at Cubs projected starters

RHP Taj Bradley vs. RHP Marcus Stroman

Bradley (3-1, 4.44 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 12.6 K/9 through 24 1/3 innings.

• Last outing: Loss, 4 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 7 K in a 20-1 loss vs. Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday
• First career start vs. Cubs

Stroman (4-4, 2.95 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 7.6 K/9 through 64 innings.

• Last outing: Win, 8 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K in a 4-2 win vs. New York Mets Wednesday
• Career vs. Rays: 5-8, 5.04 ERA (91 IP, 51 ER), 102 H, 13 HR, 31 BB, 75 K in 16 starts

Rays at Cubs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:48 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Rays -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Cubs +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+140) | Cubs +1.5 (-165)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!

Rays at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 5, Rays 4

Moneyline

Chicago has been playing up to the level of its competition lately and is 6-1 in its last 7 games vs. teams with a winning percentage above .600. Stroman has allowed 2 or fewer runs in 5 of his last 6 starts and should help the Cubs get a much-needed win after getting swept vs. the Reds. Bradley is a young pitcher and may struggle to bounce back after his worst career performance last time out.

BET CUBS (+100).

Run line/Against the spread

Chicago +1.5 (-165) should hit, but there is no need to pay the higher price on the run line when the Cubs should win straight up. Bet the moneyline and/or the total instead.

PASS.

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

Over/Under

The Over is 4-0 in Chicago’s last 4 home games and 10-1-1 in its last 12 after a loss. These teams tend to play high-scoring games vs. each other in Chicago, with the Over hitting in 4 of the last 5 meetings, and Monday should be another offensive showcase.

BET OVER 8 (-115).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

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

Follow Corey Scott on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup

[lawrence-newsletter]

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