The Tampa Bay Rays (71-72) travel to face off against the Philadelphia Phillies (85-58) on Monday, September 9th. This game will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and televised on NSPPH. The Rays are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Phillies are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Marlins. First pitch is set for 5:40 CT.
Rays vs. Phillies Betting Prediction
- Money Line Prediction: Phillies (-200)
- Over/Under Prediction: Over 8 Runs
- Phillies have won 7 of their last 10 games, showing strong recent form.
- Phillies have a home record of 47-25, indicating strong performance at home.
- Phillies scored an average of 6.4 runs per game in their last 15 games.
- Phillies have won 5 of their last 6 home games.
- Phillies have a better overall record (85-58) compared to the Rays (71-72).
Rays vs Phillies
The Rays Are Coming Off A Win
The Rays’s offense was carried by Jonny DeLuca in their most recent game vs. the Orioles. DeLuca went 2/4 with a homer and two RBIs. The Rays really only needed one big inning, as they scored two runs in the 6th to pick up the 2-0 win. Tampa Bay’s other run came from Zack Littell, who also picked up the win out of the bullpen.
Littell only threw one inning of relief, but the Rays’s offense was able to score the go-ahead run while he was in the game. He also picked up the save, and Tampa Bay’s ‘t other run came from a homer by Jonny DeLuca.
When favored, the Rays have a 35-30 record straight up, but when they are underdogs, they are 36-42. They have covered the run line in 49 of their 78 games as underdogs. Overall, the Rays are 71-72 and are 4th in the AL East, 11 games behind the Yankees.
Today’s over/under of 8 runs is close to the Rays’ season average of 8.1 runs per game. In games with an O/U line of 8, Tampa Bay has a 16-19-1 O/U record. On the road, the Rays are 39-29 vs. the run line and have covered in two straight games.
Cole Sulser Gets The Start For The Rays
Cole Sulser is getting the start for the Rays today and comes into the game with a record of 0-0 and ERA of 4.36. So far, he has made one start and seven total appearances. Sulser’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.35. The right-hander most recently pitched on September 4th, where he started the game and went two innings, finishing with a no-decision. In that outing, he didn’t give up a run, allowing one hit and a walk. Sulser has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three appearances. Per nine innings, he has 5.23 walks compared to 9.58 strikeouts.
Rays Offense Breakdown
So far this season, the Rays offense has been one of the worst in the league, averaging just 3.9 runs per game (28th). They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. However, they do have a good team walk rate and have been able to avoid strikeouts at a high rate. Yandy Diaz has been the team’s best hitter this season, batting .279 with a team-high 64 RBIs and 14 homers.
Over his last eight games, Jonny DeLuca has gone 11/29 (.379) with two homers and four RBIs. Yandy Diaz has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 8/23 in his last six games. Christopher Morel is just batting .198 for the season but does lead the Rays with 21 homers. He is also on a four-game hitting streak.
The Phillies Took The Last Game Of This Series
The Phillies will be looking to get back on track after closing out their series vs. the Marlins with a 10-1 loss. Philadelphia was actually the slight favorite on the money line going into the game but fell behind big early, as the Marlins scored seven times in the third.
Seth Johnson got the start for the Phillies and took the loss. He only lasted 2 1/3 innings, giving up nine earned runs. Offensively, the Phillies only had one fewer hit than the Marlins but scored just one run. Bryce Harper was 2/4 with a double and a run scored.
Philadelphia is 47-25 at home this season, and they have won two straight games at home. Their overall run line record is 70-73, with an average run margin of 4.0 runs per game in wins and -3.8 runs per game in losses. The Phillies are 72-43 as the favorite, but their run line record as the favorite is 55-60.
The Phillies lead the NL East by seven games over the Mets, with an 85-58 overall record. The over has hit in three straight games for Philadelphia, and their over/under record for the season is 67-69. Today’s over/under line is set at 8 runs.
Cristopher Sánchez Gets The Start For The Phillies
Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez has made 27 appearances this season and has a record of 10-9. His ERA is 3.45, and he has a WHIP of 1.26. Sánchez has turned in 15 quality starts this year, along with two complete games and one shutout. In his most recent outing, he picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had gone 5 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run. Sánchez’s ERA at home is 2.46, compared to 5.61 on the road.
Phillies Offense Breakdown
Heading into today’s game, the Phillies are 5th in the league in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.1 runs per game. Overall, they are one of the league’s top home run-hitting teams and are also near the top of the league in batting average and on-base percentage. One of the most impressive things about their offense is that they are 2nd in the league in team BABIP, which is a sign that they have been hitting the ball hard all season long.
Kyle Schwarber has been on a tear for the Phillies, going 13/34 with five homers and 11 RBIs over his last eight games. Schwarber’s 33 homers this season is 9th in the league and leads the Phillies. He is also 10th in the league with 93 RBIs. Bryce Harper is also having a strong season for the Phillies, batting .285 with 26 homers and 79 RBIs.
Rays vs Phillies Prediction
Our prediction for today’s Rays vs. Phillies matchup is to take the Phillies to pick up the win at home. However, at -200, the payout isn’t great, and we would recommend taking the over, with the line sitting at 8 runs.
Looking at the starting pitcher’s projections, we have Cristopher Sanchez finishing with seven strikeouts, which is fifth-best among today’s starters. As for Cole Sulser, we have him finishing with just four K’s.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:September 9, 2024 Phillies, Rays