Tampa Bay Rays Aim for Series Win Against Struggling Washington Nationals

On Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays (65-69) will be aiming for a series win as they take on the Washington Nationals (53-81) at Nationals Park at 3:05 PM ET. Ryan Pepiot (9-10, 3.82 ERA) will be starting for the Rays, while Jake Irvin (8-9, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Nationals. Tampa Bay has a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against Washington. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Rays vs. Nationals matchup. Please note, this preview was written prior to Saturday's game.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Rays -146 | Nationals +127
Spread: Rays -1.5 (+112) | Nationals +1.5 (-132)
Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 59%.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays recently experienced a series win against St. Louis followed by a series loss to Cleveland. Despite this setback, the team is looking to secure their third consecutive road series win with a match on Sunday. Tampa Bay has solid offensive statistics, averaging 4.48 runs per game, ranking 13th in the league with a .251 batting average. Yandy Diaz leads the team with a .287 batting average, while Junior Caminero is the top performer with 39 home runs and 94 RBI. On the defensive side, the Rays are giving up 4.17 runs per game, ranking 11th in the league. In his last start, Pepiot delivered an impressive performance, allowing just one hit and no runs in five innings, leading to a 7-2 win over the Cardinals.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are currently on a six-game losing streak as they head into their upcoming game on Sunday. Despite struggles, they have managed to win two out of their last four home games. The team's offensive statistics rank in the bottom third of the league, with a batting average of .244, on base percentage of .309, and slugging percentage of .387. CJ Abrams leads the team with a .270 batting average, while James Wood leads in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Nationals are giving up an average of 5.52 runs per game, with opponents batting .271 against them. Starting pitcher Irvin recently gave up three runs in his last start against Philadelphia.

Tampa Bay Rays Dominating on the Field as Washington Nationals Struggle

The Tampa Bay Rays have emerged victorious in four out of their last six games, showcasing their strong performance on the field. In contrast, the Washington Nationals have faced a challenging six-game losing streak. Tampa Bay holds a significant advantage in this matchup due to their impressive batting record against right-handed pitchers. Additionally, the Nationals' pitcher Irvin has struggled in recent starts, conceding a total of 15 runs in his last three games. On the other hand, Washington's offensive capabilities have been lackluster, and their current opponent Pepiot has allowed eight runs in his last three starts. With the combination of Tampa Bay's solid bullpen and Washington's offensive struggles, it is advisable to place a wager on Tampa Bay winning on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

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