The Tampa Bay Rays host the Washington Nationals on June 21, 2026. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on RAYS.
The Rays are favored by -134 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +116 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Nationals vs Rays prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Nationals vs Rays Prediction
Nationals vs Rays Picks:
- Rays ML (-134)
- Junior Caminero Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105)
Nationals vs Rays Odds
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -178 | 8 -122o / -100u | +116 |
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +146 | 8 -122o / -100u | -134 |
Nationals vs Rays Probable Pitchers
| Andrew Alvarez (LHP, WSN) | Stat | Nick Martinez (RHP, TBR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-0 | W-L | 6-2 |
| 0.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.8 |
| 3.49 / 4.71 | ERA / xERA | 2.60 / 4.49 |
| 3.10 / 3.08 | FIP / xFIP | 3.57 / 4.44 |
| 15.7% | K-BB% | 10.6% |
| 55.1% | GB% | 35.4% |
| .355 | BABIP | .281 |
| 96 | Stuff+ | 99 |
| 105 | Location+ | 105 |
Nationals vs Rays MLB Betting Preview
The Rays will host the Nationals on Sunday afternoon in the last of a three-game homestand at Tropicana Field.
Starting pitcher Nick Martinez will look to build upon his solid first half for Tampa. Meanwhile, southpaw Andrew Alvarez will start for Washington.
Martinez has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the first few months of the season, recording a 2.60 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 83 frames.
Alvarez has made just three starts this season, tossing around 28 innings, so I’m not entirely sure what to think of him yet.
Nationals vs Rays Pick, Betting Analysis
But I think Junior Caminero matches up well against Alvarez, and I’m banking on him to have a massive day at the plate.
Alvarez throws his four-seam fastball around 24.4% of the time, but he’s struggled with contact on that pitch (.429 xwOBA allowed, 14% whiff rate, 11% strikeout rate), and that could be a problem against a right-handed power bat of Caminero’s caliber.
Caminero leads all Tampa hitters in slugging against Southpaws, and he excels at driving inside fastballs, which should give him a major platoon advantage in this matchup.
Picks:
- Rays ML (-134)
- Junior Caminero Over 1.5 Total Bases (-105)
