Tampa Bay Rays vs
New York MetsPredictions & Preview

New York Mets Favored to Win as they Face Tampa Bay Rays in Interleague Matchup

The Tampa Bay Rays will face off against the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens, NY, in the opener of a three-game interleague series. The Mets are favored to win with a -165 moneyline and a total of 8.0 runs. Last season, the Rays swept the Mets in a three-game series, and Tampa Bay has a strong record against New York in recent matchups. starting pitchers for the game are Taj Bradley for the Rays and Clay Holmes for the Mets. The game is set to start at 7:10 PM ET.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays +140 | Mets -155
• Spread: Rays +1.5 (-150) | Mets -1.5 (+125)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 61%.

Tampa Bay vs New York Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays recently enjoyed a day off before preparing for their upcoming series. They concluded a three-game road set against the Boston Red Sox with a win in the opener followed by two losses. Despite this, the Rays have shown improvement in their performance over the past few weeks, winning six of their previous nine games and showcasing strong bullpen stats. Taj Bradley will be starting at Citi Field on Friday, with a solid track record against the Mets. Overall, the Rays are ranked 11th in offense, 7th in defense, and have a record of 36-31 this season.

New York Mets Analysis

The New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Thursday, extending their winning streak to six games. The Mets have scored 39 runs in their last two three-game series and have only lost two of their last 13 games. The team has a strong offensive and defensive performance, with a .263/.340/.522 slash line and a bullpen with a 2.57 ERA. Clay Holmes is expected to start the next game with an impressive 2.95 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. The Mets are ranked #4 in power rankings and are #8 for offense and #1 for defense, with a record of 43-24. Tampa Bay has struggled against the Mets in their last three matchups, going 0-3.

Clay Holmes Shines as Mets Face Off Against Struggling Rays in Division Matchup

Clay Holmes has demonstrated strong performance as a starting pitcher during his first season, boasting an impressive 2.55 ERA over his past four starts. Given his success, Holmes is likely to excel in an upcoming game against his former divisional rivals. In contrast, Taj Bradley has shown inconsistency throughout the season, with a 5.14 ERA in his last five starts. Given Bradley's recent struggles, it is prudent to consider the Mets as the favored team in the opening game of the series. The Mets have excelled against right-handed pitchers this month, with a .267/.356/.547 slash line and 154 wRC+. Conversely, the Rays have struggled against righties in June, with a .676 OPS and 94 wRC+.

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