Chicago Cubs vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Favored to Defeat Chicago Cubs in Interleague Matchup at Tropicana Field

The Chicago Cubs will be looking to improve their position in the NL Central standings as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of their three-game interleague series. The game will be held at Tropicana Field and is set to start at 6:50 PM ET. Cubs' Jameson Taillon with a 3-2 record and 3.47 ERA will be on the mound, while the Rays will have Zach Eflin starting, who is 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA. The two teams have split their last 10 meetings. According to the current line, Tampa Bay is favored to win with an opening line of -130 now at -137. Please note that this preview was written prior to Monday's game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs +126 | Rays -137
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-173) | Rays -1.5 (+155)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 58%.

Chicago vs Tampa Bay Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs recently ended a three-game losing streak with a win over the Cincinnati Reds, avoiding a sweep by their rivals. The team is currently tied for second in the NL Central standings, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 6.5 games. Chicago will look to continue their winning streak with a game on Tuesday. The team's offense ranks 17th in the league, averaging 4.30 runs per game with a .229 batting average. Mike Tauchman leads the Cubs with a .261 batting average, 12 home runs, and 39 RBI. On the pitching side, Chicago is giving up an average of 3.88 runs per game, with opponents hitting .241 against them. In their last game, pitcher Taillon gave up 10 hits and five runs in five innings. The team will need a better effort from him in the upcoming game. Nico Hoerner is questionable for the next game due to a hand injury. Overall, Chicago has a power ranking of 24 and is ranked 20 in defense, allowing an average of 4.52 points per game against them. The Cubs currently have a record of 32-34 this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays recently went from sweeping the Marlins to losing a series to the Orioles, dropping them to fifth in the AL East standings. They are one game behind Toronto and will aim to move into a tie for fourth place with a win on Tuesday. The team is struggling offensively, averaging 3.89 runs per game with a .233 batting average, ranking 20th in the league. Isaac Paredes has been the standout batter for Tampa Bay. The pitching hasn't been great either, with the team allowing 4.43 runs per game and opponents hitting .249 against them. They will need a solid performance from Eflin in their next game to secure a win. Research is recommended before looking for top sportsbook promos. Tampa Bay has a power ranking of 26 and ranks 26th in offense, 25th in defense, and has an overall record of 31-35. Chicago recently won 1 out of 3 matchups against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays Expected to Dominate Chicago Cubs in Upcoming Game

The Tampa Bay Rays have experienced a mixed performance in their recent six games, with a particular struggle seen in their offensive play, having scored only 10 runs in their last four games. However, a potential shift in their offensive strategy is expected in the upcoming game, as Chicago Cubs' pitcher Taillon has faced challenges on the mound in his recent starts, giving up a total of 11 runs in his last three games, including 13 runs in his last three road starts. Moreover, the Cubs have encountered a losing streak in their last six road games, also struggling offensively by scoring only nine runs in their recent three away games. Their offensive shortcomings are anticipated to persist in the upcoming game, especially against right-handed pitchers like Eflin, who has effectively managed to limit opponents to only two runs in his last three home starts. Eflin's previous success against the Cubs further solidifies the prediction of his ability to contain their offense. Therefore, it is recommended to wager on the Tampa Bay Rays to cover the money line in the upcoming game.

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