Rays vs. Tigers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 30, 2023

The Tampa Bay Rays look to start their season with a win as home favorites (-238) in a season-opening matchup with the Detroit Tigers. First pitch is on Thursday at 3:10 PM ET on BSSUN, live from Tropicana Field.

Shane McClanahan takes the mound for Tampa Bay while Eduardo Rodriguez is Detroit’s starter for the contest.

Rays vs. Tigers Odds

• Rays odds to win: -238
• Tigers odds to win: +196
• Spread: Rays -1.5
• Total: 6.5 runs

Rays vs. Tigers Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023
• Time: 3:10 PM ET
• TV: BSSUN

Who Will Win Rays vs. Tigers?

Rays and Tigers Betting Trends (2022)

The Rays finished with a 63-43 record in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite last season (winning 59.4% of those games).

In games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -238 or shorter last year, Tampa Bay finished with a record of 3-2 (60%).

Last season, the Tigers were the underdog 136 times and won 53, or 39%, of those games.

Last season, Detroit won seven of its 18 games, or 38.9%, when it was the underdog by at least +196 on the moneyline.

The Rays combined with their opponents to go over the total 73 times last season for a 73-82-9 record against the over/under.

The Tigers and their opponents hit the over in 61 of their 162 games with a total last season.

Rays Stats & Insights (2022)

Last season the Rays were the 21st-highest scoring team in MLB play averaging 4.1 runs per game (666 total).

Tampa Bay ranked 25th in baseball with 139 home runs last season. It averaged 0.9 per game.

The Rays ranked 17th in MLB with a .239 batting average.

The club struck out 8.6 times per game, the No. 19 average in baseball.

The pitching staff for the Rays had a collective 8.7 K/9 last season, which ranked 12th in MLB.

Tampa Bay’s 3.41 team ERA ranked fourth across all MLB pitching staffs.

Tigers Stats & Insights (2022)

The Tigers were among the lowest scoring teams in the league, ranking last with just 556 total runs (3.4 per game) last season.

Detroit hit just 110 homers last season, which ranked last in the league.

The Tigers’ .231 batting average ranked 25th in the majors last season.

Detroit had the 21st-ranked strikeouts per game rate (8.7) among MLB offenses.

The Tigers averaged the 25th-most strikeouts per nine innings (7.6) in the big leagues last season.

Detroit pitched to a 4.06 last season, which ranked 21st in baseball.

Rays Key Players to Watch (2022)

McClanahan will make his first start of the season for the Rays.

Tigers Key Players to Watch (2022)

Rodriguez has been named the starter for the Tigers and will make his first start this season.

Rays and Tigers Injuries

Rays: Shawn Armstrong: 15 Day IL (Neck), Tyler Glasnow: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Shane Baz: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Andrew Kittredge: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Tigers: Tyler Nevin: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Michael Lorenzen: 15 Day IL (Groin), Beau Brieske: 15 Day IL (Arm), Casey Mize: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Tarik Skubal: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Freddy Pacheco: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Rays vs. Tigers Prediction

Score Prediction: Rays 5, Tigers 3

Total Prediction: Over 6.5 runs

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