The Tampa Bay Rays (49-42) and Detroit Tigers (58-34) will face off in the MLB tonight. First pitch from Comerica Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on FDSDET.
Detroit is a -130 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Tampa Bay is +110 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 8 total runs.
Continue below for my Rays vs Tigers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, July 8, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
Rays vs Tigers Picks, Prediction
- Rays vs Tigers pick: Rays Moneyline (+110)
My Tigers vs. Rays best bet is on Tampa Bay moneyline, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rays vs Tigers Odds for Tuesday, July 8
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -200 | 8 -105 / -115 | +110 |
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +165 | 8 -105 / -115 | -130 |
- Rays vs Tigers run line: Rays +1.5 (-200), Tigers -1.5 (+165)
- Rays vs Tigers over/under: 8 total runs
- Rays vs Tigers moneyline: Tigeres -130, Rays +110
- Rays vs Tigers best bet: Rays ML (+110)
Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers MLB Preview
Ryan Pepiot has been fantastic for Tampa Bay this season.
Through 18 starts, Pepiot boasts a 3.34 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. His underlying metrics suggest that this success is likely to continue.
Entering this matchup, the right-hander ranks in the top half of the league in expected batting average (xBA), strikeout rate and walk rate.
He also has a strong track record against Detroit. Through four meetings, Pepiot owns a 2.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
The most recent of those meetings occurred just a few weeks ago.
In that outing, Pepiot allowed just one run on three hits while striking out seven over five innings. Detroit lost that game by a score of 8-3.
A similar outcome could be in store on Tuesday, with Jack Flaherty taking the mound for the Tigers.
Through 17 starts this season, Flaherty is 5-9 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
He's the inferior starting pitcher in this matchup, both statistically and analytically.
Flaherty trails Pepiot not only in ERA and WHIP, but also in expected ERA (xERA), average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate.
Complicating matters for Flaherty is that he may not receive much run support in this spot.
Through 65 combined plate appearances against Pepiot, the current Detroit roster has a .182 batting average, .309 slugging percentage and .284 weighted on-base average (wOBA).
If the Tigers’ offense is held in check, they are at a clear disadvantage in this matchup.
Rays vs Tigers Betting Predictions
There are two reasons why Detroit is slightly favored: home field and hitting.
That said, Tampa Bay owns a winning record on the road this season.
Meanwhile, the hitting gap is smaller than the pitching gap.
Both teams rank in the top-10 in runs scored per game, hits per game, slugging percentage and OPS.
Rays vs Tigers Best Bet
- Rays ML (+110)
Rays vs Tigers Betting Trends
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