Free MLB Pick: Tigers vs. Rays Odds
Looking for Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Tigers taking on the Rays on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this Tigers Rays free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(70-77) Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays (91-56)
Date: Saturday, September 18th, 2021
Time: 4:10 PM ET
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Projected Pitchers: Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. Ryan Yarbrough (TB)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Tigers +165 | Rays -180
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Rays -1.5 (-130)
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: O/U 8.5
The Tampa Bay Rays hope to strike even in their second series run-in with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
It won’t be easy considering the run the Tigers have been on as of late. After upsetting the Rays, they swept the Milwaukee Brewers in a two-game meeting at Comerica Park. Meanwhile, the Rays dropped their second straight series to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yandy Díaz hit a leadoff home run and Mike Zunino later connected as the Rays won 5-2 and widened their AL East lead to 8.5 games.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are only 7 games below .500 mid-way into the month of September after finishing with a .397 winning percentage in 2020 and .292 in 2019. The team has continued to fight throughout the season even with playoff hopes non-existent which is a good sign for the rebuilding franchise.
The Tigers have improved at the plate as Detroit is 12th in team batting average at .242, 20th in slugging percentage at .402 and have produced the 18th most runs with 634.
On the mound, Detroit is 19th in team ERA at 4.43, 22nd in WHIP at 1.37 and opposing hitters are averaging .253 at the plate against Tigers pitching which is good for 23rd best in baseball.
2B Jonathan Scoop has been an offensive catalyst for the Tigers and leads the team with 77 RBIs, 157 hits and a batting average of .280.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have 17 games remaining in the regular season and with their victory over Toronto on Tuesday extended their lead at the top of American League East to 9 games.
Tampa Bay has been carried by its pitching staff this season. The Rays have a team ERA of 3.78 which is seventh best in baseball, a 1.20 WHIP which is fourth-best and opposing hitters are averaging only .237 at the plate against Rays pitching which is 11th best.
Austin Meadows has 99 RBIs to lead Tampa Bay but close behind is Brandon Lowe with 85 RBIs and a team-best 34 home runs.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Tigers are 70-77 overall
- Tigers are 31-41 on the road
- Rays are 91-56 overall
- Rays are 46-26 at home
Free Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Prediction:
These teams faced off last week and Skubal only went 3 innings before being pulled as the bullpen went the rest of the distance. The Tigers won that game in extras 8-7 in an uncharacteristically bad showing by the Rays pitching.
The Rays are one of the best teams in baseball and are especially tough to beat at Tropicana Field, where they are 46-26 this season.
This is a team that thrives off pitching first and capitalizes off their opponents pitching mistakes second.
I’m expecting deja vu this Saturday with the Rays winning handily.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Rays -1.5
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