Tampa Bay Rays vs
Detroit TigersPredictions & Preview

Detroit Tigers Look to Continue Surge in Wild Card Race as they Face Tampa Bay Rays in Series Opener at Comerica Park

The Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers will face off in the first game of a three-game series at Comerica Park on Tuesday night. Ryan Pepiot will be pitching for the Rays, with Tarik Skubal starting for the Tigers. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET, with Detroit opening as the home favorite with a betting line of -176 that has remained steady.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays +157 | Tigers -176
• Spread: Rays +1.5 (-148) | Tigers -1.5 (+130)
• Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Detroit will win straight-up is 64%.

Tampa Bay vs Detroit Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

Ryan Pepiot is set to start the first game of the road series against Detroit after an impressive performance against the Boston Red Sox last week. Despite only allowing one run on two hits and striking out 12 batters over six innings, he had to settle for a no-decision as the Rays' offense struggled. His fastball was particularly effective, forcing 15 swings-and-misses on its own. Despite a solo home run being his only blemish, Pepiot put on a spectacular performance. The Rays recently climbed back to a .500 record with a win over the Toronto Blue Jays, completing a three-game sweep and extending their winning streak to four games, the longest since May. Tampa Bay currently holds a power ranking of 13, ranking 29th in offense with an average of 3.77 runs per game, 11th in defense allowing 4.14 runs per game, and stands at a record of 78-78 for the season.

Detroit Tigers Analysis

The Detroit Tigers, powered by their ace lefty Tarik Skubal, are currently on a surge through the American League. Skubal, who has been maintaining Cy Young credentials this season, is set to take the mound in an important series against the Rays. Despite a recent injury setback to his non-throwing hand, Skubal has been strong on the mound, not allowing more than three runs in his last eight starts. The Tigers, led by players like Kerry Carpenter who homered twice in a recent win, are now sitting at 82-74 and are in contention for a wild-card spot. The Tigers have a power ranking of 4 and statistics show they are #18 for offense and #6 for defense. Tampa Bay has recently won 2 out of their last 3 matchups against Detroit, making this upcoming series with the Rays crucial for the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers Surging in Wild Card Race as Tarik Skubal Takes the Mound

The Detroit Tigers have recently experienced a successful stretch, winning 11 out of their last 14 games, consequently propelling them into a competitive position within the American League wild card race. Following their recent victories, they now hold a half-game lead over the Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild-card spot, with a record of 81-74. Tarik Skubal, who has consistently performed well throughout the season, is set to make his 31st start. Despite dealing with a minor injury to his non-throwing hand which caused a one-day delay, Skubal delivered an impressive performance in his previous outing against the Royals. As the Tigers face off against Tampa Bay, a team looking to disrupt their playoff hopes, I anticipate another exceptional performance from Skubal. My prediction is in favor of the Detroit Tigers.

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