Detroit Tigers vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Favored to Win Against Detroit Tigers in Saturday Matchup at George M. Steinbrenner Field

The Detroit Tigers (48-28) will be facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays (41-34) in the second game of their three-game series at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday afternoon at 12:10 PM ET. Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 3.97 ERA) will start for the Tigers, while Ryan Pepiot (4-6, 3.11 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays. Detroit is looking to secure their second consecutive series win, as they hold a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against Tampa Bay. Despite Tampa Bay being the betting favorite at -121, the line has remained unchanged. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Tigers vs. Rays matchup. Note that this preview was written prior to Friday's game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tigers +110 | Rays -121
• Spread: Tigers +1.5 (-178) | Rays -1.5 (+146)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 55%.

Detroit vs Tampa Bay Stats

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have rebounded from a series loss to Cincinnati with a series win against Pittsburgh, giving them four wins in their last seven games. They currently lead the AL Central with a 9.5-game lead over Cleveland and will look to expand their division lead in their upcoming game on Saturday. The team averages 4.88 runs per game, ranking them fifth in the league, with a .252 batting average (10th in the league), a .322 on base percentage (12th), and a .417 slugging percentage (sixth). Gleyber Torres leads the team with a .281 batting average, Spencer Torkelson leads with 16 home runs, and Riley Greene leads with 55 RBI. Defensively, Detroit is giving up 3.74 runs per game (sixth in the league), with opponents holding a .232 batting average against them (ninth). Their 3.36 ERA ranks fourth, with a 1.19 WHIP ranking fifth. Despite a recent loss to the Reds, the team's power ranking is at 13, ranking them fifth in offense, sixth in defense, and with a season record of 48-28.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a successful run recently, following up a sweep of the Mets with a split series against the Orioles. Currently second in the AL East, they are 2.5 games behind the New York Yankees and will look to close that gap with a win on Saturday. The team's offense ranks 9th in the league, averaging 4.61 runs per game with a .253 batting average. Jonathan Aranda leads the team with a .329 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Rays are giving up 3.75 runs per game and opponents have a .224 batting average against them. In their last matchup, pitcher Pepiot led the team to a 7-1 win over Baltimore, maintaining a 2.12 ERA in three games against Detroit. With a power ranking of 1, the Rays have shown strength both offensively and defensively, holding a 41-34 overall record. Detroit has struggled in their recent matchups against Tampa Bay, going 0-3.

Tampa Bay Rays Poised for Victory Against Detroit Tigers in upcoming Game

The Tampa Bay Rays have been performing well, winning five out of their last seven games, whereas the Detroit Tigers have faced some challenges, losing three of their last five games. Tampa Bay holds an advantage due to their strong performance against right-handed pitchers and facing Gipson-Long, who has struggled recently by conceding six runs in his last three games. On the other hand, Detroit's offense may struggle as they have not been as successful at hitting the ball, especially against Pepiot, who has given up only six runs in his last five starts. With Pepiot's strong performance in mind, it is recommended to consider betting on Tampa Bay to win.

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