Tampa Bay Rays vs
New York MetsPredictions & Preview

New York Mets Riding Hot Streak as They Face Tampa Bay Rays in AL East Showdown at Citi Field

The Tampa Bay Rays will look to climb the AL East standings as they take on the New York Mets in the second game of their series at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays, while Tylor Megill will take the mound for the Mets. Tampa Bay has a strong record against New York, winning 8 of their last 10 matchups. The Mets are the betting favorite in this game.**Please note that this preview was written before Friday's game took place.**

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays +118 | Mets -134
• Spread: Rays +1.5 (-185) | Mets -1.5 (+161)
• Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 57%.

Tampa Bay vs New York Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays recently had their two-series winning streak broken by the Boston Red Sox in their last series, as they struggled in recent road games losing three of their last four. The team will aim to bounce back with a win on Saturday. Tampa Bay averages 4.43 runs per game, ranking 11th in the league, with a batting average of .245 (16th), on-base percentage of .311 (19th), and slugging percentage of .389 (18th). Jonathan Aranda leads the team with a .314 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads in home runs (15) and RBI (41). Defensively, the team gives up 3.74 runs per game (seventh in the league), with opponents batting .235 against them (12th). The team's ERA is 3.54 (eighth), and their WHIP is 1.17 (fourth). In the last start by Rasmussen, he gave up six hits and two runs in six innings, resulting in a 3-2 win over Miami. Tampa Bay is currently ranked 11 in offense, 7 in defense, and has a season record of 36-32, with a power ranking of 1.

New York Mets Analysis

The New York Mets have been performing well recently, winning seven of their last eight games and leading the NL East with a 5.5-game lead over Philadelphia. They will aim to further increase their division lead with a win on Saturday. The team averages 4.62 runs per game, ranking seventh in the league, with a .248 batting average (13th) and strong on-base and slugging percentages. Pete Alonso has been a standout player with a .298 batting average, 17 home runs, and 63 RBI. On the defensive side, the Mets are giving up 3.25 runs per game, leading the league, with opponents hitting .226 against them (fourth in the league). Their 2.80 ERA leads the league, with a 1.22 WHIP (14th). In their last game, Megill pitched well in a 13-5 win over Colorado. The Mets currently have a power ranking of 4 and rank 8th in offense, with a 45-24 overall record. Tampa Bay has struggled against New York in their last three matchups.

New York Mets Riding Hot Streak as Tampa Bay Rays Struggle on the Road

The New York Mets are currently on a hot streak, winning seven out of their last eight games, while the Tampa Bay Rays have struggled on the road, losing three of their last four games. The Mets have shown strength in batting against right-handed pitchers, making them the favorable choice against the Rays' pitcher, Rasmussen, who has allowed four runs in his last two road starts.

Additionally, the Rays' bullpen has shown weaknesses in recent road games, which could pose a challenge for them in slowing down the Mets' offense. On the other hand, the Mets' pitcher Megill has performed well, especially at home, giving up only eight runs in five starts. With a strong bullpen backing them up, the Mets have a good chance of keeping the Rays' offense in check.

Considering these factors, it is advisable to place a bet on the New York Mets to win.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]