Free MLB Pick: Rays vs. Phillies Odds
Looking for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Rays taking on the Phillies on Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Rays Phillies free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(77-48) Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (63-61)
Date: Tuesday, August 24th, 2021
Time: 7:05 PM ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Projected Pitchers: Rasmussen (TB), Suarez (PHI)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Reds +120 | Phillies -140
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Rays TBD, Phillies TBD
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 9.5
Tampa Bay Rays
After losing the first game of their series against the White Sox over the weekend, the Rays bounced back to win the next two and retain a 4.5-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.
Five pitchers blanked Chicago on Sunday and Wander Franco collected two hits and scored three times in Sunday’s victory.
Monday will be a day off to travel before Drew Rasmussen gets things started in Philadelphia.
Rasmussen, who came over from Milwaukee in this year’s early-season traded involving Wily Adames, has pitched both as a starter and a reliever for Tampa Bay this year.
His last two outings have come as the starter and he’s gone four innings each time, giving up a total of two hits, one run, and three walks with seven strikeouts. He threw 50 and 56 pitches, respectively.
Mike Zunino may have been the All-Star this season but Francisco Mejia has had nearly as good as season as his backup in close to an even time-share split.
Mejia went 2-for-4 on Sunday and drove in three runs to improve his OPS+ to 114 in 218 plate appearances.
Zunino should be back in the lineup for this game after the rest. He’s posted a 140 OPS+ in 287 plate appearances. Both he and Mejia have benefited and should continue to do so into the postseason by staying fresh all season.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies started this month hot with eight straight wins. Since, they have gone just 4–8 while the Braves have stayed red-hot to open up a lead in the NL East similar to Tampa Bay’s in the AL East.
Ranger Suarez ranks fourth on Philadelphia’s roster and second on its pitching staff in Wins Above Replacement. He was the ace in the bullpen for most of this season but his last four appearances have been as a starter.
Similar to his opponent Rasmussen, Suarez is not stretched out to the extent of a regular MLB starting pitcher but he might be getting close. He’s thrown 31, 61, 82 and then 86 pitches, respectively, in those four starts.
He didn’t give up a run in his first starts, which spanned 5.2 innings. Then he allowed one in 4.1 innings against the Dodgers to bring his ERA up over 1.00.
Last time out, in Arizona, Suarez gave up eight hits and a season-high three earned runs.
Way back at the end of May, Suarez faced three batters in Tampa Bay and gave up a hit and a walk before getting out of the inning without a run to his name.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Phillies are 8-1 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 9-3 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 9-2 in their last 11 overall.
- Phillies are 9-2 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 Tuesday games.
Free Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB Prediction: under.
The total of 9.5 is too high. Suarez hasn’t been quite as good as a long man as he was as a short reliever but he was never going to be better. He’s still been quite effective.
Plus, Tampa Bay will be without one of its top right-handed power hitters, Nelson Cruz, after he tested positive for covid-19.
Rasmussen won’t feel any pressure to go deep into this game either. Instead, he will try to put up as many zeroes as he can with a rested Tampa Bay bullpen behind him, ready to finish the deal.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Under 9.5
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