Odds, Picks and Predictions
- The Tampa Bay Rays are 63-65 against the run line this season.
- The Miami Marlins are 59-70 against the run line this year.
- The Rays are 33-30 against the run line when playing on the road.
- The Marlins are 22-41 against the run line when playing at their home field.
- Miami is 43-37 against the run line as an underdog this year.
- Tampa Bay is 35-52 against the run line as a favorite this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays (71-57) and Miami Marlins (55-74) will go head-to-head in a Wednesday afternoon matchup. Wednesday’s game represents Game 2 of this two-game set.
The Rays won Game 1 7-2 on Tuesday to open the series in Miami. They moved into second place in the AL East following the win. They now lead the Wild Card following the victory as well.
Meanwhile, the Marlins’ difficult 2022 campaign continued with the defeat. Miami hasn’t been able to get things going but will try to rebound on Wednesday.
The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM EST on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022, at loanDepot park in Miami, FL.
Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins Odds
Teams | Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
Rays | N/A | N/A | -1.5 |
Marlins | N/A | N/A | +1.5 |
*The moneyline and total have yet to be released.
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Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins Betting Preview
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
For the Rays, they started off the season fairly slow. But Tampa Bay has heated up as of late and are rolling right now.
However, it wasn’t all good on Tuesday. All-Star left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan, who was scheduled to start the game, was scratched after suffering an injury. We discuss his injury further in the injury report section below.
Shawn Armstrong ended up getting the start, and he pitched three innings of shutout ball. The rest of the Rays pitching staff combined to allow just two total runs in the 7-2 win.
Offensively, Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri both homered to pace the offense. It was an all-around quality effort by Tampa Bay in the victory.
However, the Rays’ offense is still in the bottom half of the league in most categories. They are 18th in team batting average, 20th in OBP, 21st in slugging percentage, 17th in runs scored, and 22nd in home runs.
So it is rare for them to have an offensive outburst like they did Tuesday. But when their offense performs like they did on Tuesday, Tampa Bay is a very difficult team to beat due to their strong pitching.
Pitching-wise, the Rays are fourth in team ERA, fourth in WHIP, 16th in home runs allowed, and seventh in batting average against.
The Rays will send Drew Rasmussen (9-4, 2.77) to the mound on Wednesday. Rasmussen has been vital to their success this season. He will be even more important now, given McClanahan’s injury.
Miami Marlins Preview
The Marlins have struggled all year long. They were unable to get the job done against Tampa Bay on Tuesday as well.
Overall, they are just 1-4 over the course of their past five games. They have scored two runs or less in four of those five affairs. There is no denying the fact that this is a bottom-tier offense.
On the season, Miami is 24th in batting average, 26th in OBP, 27th in slugging percentage, 27th in runs scored, and 23rd in home runs. On the pitching side of things, the Marlins rank 14th in ERA, 16th in WHIP, ninth in home runs allowed, and 13th in batting average against.
From a pitching standpoint, the Marlins have been closer to the middle of the road. Much of their success on the mound can be attributed to NL Cy Young front-runner Sandy Alcantara.
On Wednesday, Trevor Rogers (4-10, 5.85) will be the starter. Rogers enjoyed a terrific rookie season in 2021 but has been unable to replicate that success in 2022.
Injury Report
Shane McClanahan was scratched from his Rays start with a shoulder injury. However, he is reportedly feeling optimistic, which is a good sign. He will undergo evaluation on Wednesday.
But the Rays certainly hope McClanah’s optimism is justified, and he dodged a bullet. If he is forced to miss a significant amount of time, that would be a brutal blow for Tampa Bay.
Ryan Thompson was recently placed on the IL for Tampa Bay with a tricep ailment.
For the Marlins, Braxton Garrett is dealing with an oblique injury. His timetable is unclear.
The Marlins have a number of players on the 60-day IL, such as Anthony Bender, Max Meyer, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins Picks and Predictions
So who is going to cover the run line? Who is going to win? Which team should you place your money on in this Wednesday evening ball game?
Tampa Bay is the clear favorite. The Rays are a better team. Drew Rasmussen has enjoyed a much better year than Trevor Rogers.
But the Marlins could possibly upset the run line given the Rays’ offensive struggles. Yes, Tampa Bay’s lineup scored a good amount of runs on Tuesday. But will that carry into Wednesday?
Possibly, but they have been difficult to trust from an offensive perspective.
Nevertheless, rolling with Tampa Bay is the smart decision on Wednesday. The Rays have been mediocre against the run line in 2022, but betting on the Marlins would be an extremely risky proposition despite their home-field advantage.
However, Wednesday’s game will likely be a low-scoring affair that is more competitive than Game 1. Bettors can expect Drew Rasmussen to pitch well and ultimately lead Tampa Bay to the victory.
The Pick:
Go ahead and take the Tampa Bay Rays with your betting selection in this Wednesday night’s Interleague ball game. Be sure to take the Rays -1.5 on the run line as well.
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