Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds Preview
From Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, we have an interleague matchup between the Reds and Rays. First pitch on Sunday is set for 11:35 AM ET. Hunter Greene is starting for the Reds, and he is facing off against Shawn Armstrong. The Reds are the slight money line favorite, and the odds have them at -131 compared to the Rays at +110. The over/under line is currently 7.5 runs, and the Rays are 4th in the AL East, while the Reds are 4th in the NL Central.
The forecast for Sunday’s game calls for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 90s. Cincinnati comes in with a record of 50-54, while the Rays are just above .500 at 53-52. On the run line, the Reds are +129, and the Rays are -157.
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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cincinnati Reds Trends and Key Stats
- Over the course of their previous five away games, the Reds have recorded a 3-2 record, with a 2-3 performance on the runline.
- On the opposing side, the Rays have a 3-2 (SU) record, along with a 3-2 record in their last five home contests.
- Looking back on their last ten games as the favorite, the Reds are 5-5 straight-up and 4-6 vs. the runline.
- The Rays have a 6-4 record vs. the runline and a 6-4 straight-up record in their last ten games as the underdog.
Tampa Bay cruised to a 4-0 win over the Reds in the most recent game of this series. The Rays had a huge 5th inning, scoring all four of their runs. As for the Reds, they had their best chance to score in the 6th, but could only muster three hits.
Zack Littell started for the Rays and picked up the win, going seven innings and not giving up a run. He finished the game with five strikeouts but issued just one walk. On the other side, Andrew Abbott got the start for the Reds and took the loss, giving up four earned runs in four innings of work.
At the plate, Alex Jackson was the only player for either team to homer. He went 1/3 with an RBI and run scored. Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and Amed Rosario each had two hits and an RBI for the Rays’ offense.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
Cincinnati is 50-54 overall this season, and they are 9.0 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Reds are 12-14 in divisional games this year. The Reds are on the road today, taking on the Rays, and they are 12-18-3 in series this year.
So far, the Reds have been good as the favorite, going 26-22, and they are 25-26 as the road team. Cincinnati has split their first two games of this series vs. the Rays and are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall.
When betting on the Reds’ run line, it’s been more profitable to take them on the road, where they are 32-19. Their average run differential on the road is +0.6 runs per game, compared to +0.1 runs per game at home. They are 23-30 against the run line at home. As the underdog, they are 34-22 vs. the run line, compared to 21-27 as the favorite. Their average run differential in wins is +3.7 runs per game, while it’s -2.8 runs per game in losses.
When the Cincinnati Reds are on the road, the over/under line is set at an average of 9 runs per game. However, today’s line is set at 7.5 runs, which is lower than their average. The Reds have played 84 games with lines set higher than 7.5 runs, and their over/under record is 46-54. Their combined run average for the season is 8.5 runs per game. Recently, the under has hit in two straight games for Cincinnati.
Hunter Greene has been pitching well for the Reds, as he comes into the game with a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 3.15. Looking at his overall numbers, Greene has made 20 starts, and opponents are batting .187 off him this season. Greene has turned in nine quality starts, and his most recent outing was a gem. Against the Braves, he went seven innings, giving up no runs, and picking up the win. In that outing, he only gave up two hits and three walks. Greene has only allowed 10 homers this season. Per nine innings, he is averaging 10.2 strikeouts and 3.68 walks.
Elly De La Cruz has been one of the Reds’ most consistent hitters this season, batting .258 with a team-leading 18 homers. He has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 8/28 in his last seven games with one home run. Spencer Steer is also a big power threat in the lineup, as he has 15 homers and 64 RBIs, which is 11th in the league. However, he is hitting just .239 this season.
As a team, the Reds are averaging 4.4 runs per game, which is 14th in the league. They have also been one of the better power-hitting teams in the league, as their 114 homers is 12th in the MLB. Currently, the Reds have three players on a notable hitting streak, with Santiago Espinal leading the way at seven games.
Tampa Bay is 53-52 overall and is 8.5 games behind the Orioles for the AL East lead. So far, they have gone just 16-21 in AL East matchups. The Rays are at home today, where they are 28-28 and 25-24 on the road.
As the favorite, the Rays are 29-26 this year and 24-26 as the underdog. Their overall series record is 18-12-3, and they are 6-4 across their last ten games.
The Rays have a run line record of 51-54 this season, including a 22-34 mark at home. They have covered the run line in three straight games at home and are 30-20 against the run line as the underdog this season.
Today’s over/under line of 7.5 runs is not a common occurrence for the Tampa Bay Rays, as only 4.8% of their games have had lower lines this season. The under has hit in two straight games for the Rays, and their games have averaged 8.5 runs per game this season. Their over/under record is 50-50, and the average line for their games is 8 runs.
Right-hander Shawn Armstrong gets the start for the Rays today as he faces the Reds at home. He has made six starts this year and 37 total appearances. Armstrong’s ERA for the season is 5.64, along with a record of 2-2. In his last outing, Armstrong went two innings and didn’t give up a run. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Armstrong has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three outings. Opponents are batting .282 off Armstrong this year, and his WHIP is 1.61.
For the season, the Rays are averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. They have been even worse at home, averaging just 3.7 runs per game. However, they have been a bit better on the road, averaging 4.4 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .235 (15th) and have the 21st home run total in the league.
Isaac Paredes has been a big power threat for the Rays this season, as his 16 homers lead the team. He is also batting .247, and his 55 RBIs are the best mark on the team. Yandy Diaz has also been a good run producer, with 47 RBIs and a batting average of .272. Over his last five games, Brandon Lowe is 7/15 with two homers and six RBIs.
Our prediction for today’s Reds vs. Rays matchup is to take the Rays on the money line at +110. With the starting pitchers, Hunter Greene and Shawn Armstrong, we have Armstrong finishing with more strikeouts than Greene, as Armstrong is projected to finish with four K’s.
Offensively, we have the Rays finishing with 10 hits compared to the Reds at eight. If you’re looking for a final score prediction, we have the Rays winning this one 6-5. As for Greene, he does have the highest strikeout projections among starters today, with a projected eight K’s.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds Betting Tips
- Take the Reds on the moneyline
- The Rays are also our pick on the run line at +1.5
- Projecting a combined 11 runs, we like the over
Tampa Bay Rays Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Wander Franco | Out | Personal |
| Drew Rasmussen | Out | Arm |
| Richard Lovelady | Out | Forearm |
| Jeffrey Springs | Out | Elbow |
| Shane McClanahan | Out | Elbow |
| Jacob Waguespack | Out | Shoulder |
| Ryan Pepiot | Out | Knee |
Cincinnati Reds Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Maile | Out | Back |
| Emilio Pagán | Out | Lat |
| Brent Suter | Out | Shoulder |
| Nick Martini | Out | Thumb |
| Ian Gibaut | Out | Forearm |
| Matt McLain | Out | Shoulder |
| Graham Ashcraft | Out | Elbow |
| Brandon Williamson | Out | Shoulder |
| Tejay Antone | Out | Elbow |
| Carson Spiers | Out | Shoulder |
| Christian Encarnacion-Strand | Out | Wrist |
