The Tampa Bay Rays (31-11) and New York Mets (20-22) open a 3-game set Tuesday at Citi Field. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Mets odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting since Tampa Bay swept New York 3-0 in 2019
The Rays are 2-4 over their last 6 games and enter off a 4-game split at the New York Yankees from Thursday-Sunday.
The Mets are 3-6 over their last 9 games. They own an anemic .625 OPS across their last 11 games.
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Rays at Mets projected starters
LHP Jalen Beeks vs. RHP Justin Verlander
Beeks (1-2, 5.40 ERA) is tabbed for his 4th start and 16th appearance of the season. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9 through 20 IP across 15 games.
- Last start: No-decision, 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K at the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday
- Owns a 4.19 ERA over 116 career games (14 starts)
- Expected that RHP Yonny Chirinos will pitch as the bulk hurler behind Beeks
Verlander (1-1, 2.25 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 0.83 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9 through 12 IP.
- Making his 3rd start since returning from the IL (shoulder) on May 4
- Will see perhaps 4 lefty/switch betters in the top-7 in Tampa’s lineup and has been dominant against lefty bats over the back half of his career
Rays at Mets odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Rays +138 (bet $100 to win $138) | Mets -164 (bet $164 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (-154) | Mets -1.5 (+128)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120| U: -102)
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Rays at Mets picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, Mets 4
Moneyline
The Mets are just 7-8 at home. Tampa Bay is 8-1 in interleague play.
The fly-balling Verlander is coming off 104 pitches in his last start and faces a wind-out evening at Citi Field — and not knowing what level of Verlander we are getting — makes for a lean toward the visiting nine.
The Rays know how to wriggle through bullpen games as well as anybody. The Mets are 4-9 over their last 13 with very real problems on both sides of the ball.
BACK THE RAYS (+138).
Run line/Against the spread
Bettors with a tad more faith in Verlander may want to get into some RAYS +1.5 (-154) action.
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Over/Under
Both teams have signals pointing to less offense and worse pitching. It likely all comes out in the wash in an 8- or 9-run game. PASS.
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