Mets vs. Rays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Tuesday, May 16, 2023

May 16, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

Two of the league’s top hitters will meet Tuesday when the New York Mets (20-22) and Tampa Bay Rays (31-11) take to the field at 7:10 PM ET, live on SNY. Brandon Nimmo is batting .316 for the Mets (-158 favorites on the moneyline) while Yandy Diaz leads the underdog Rays (+134) with a .321 average.

New York’s Justin Verlander gets the start, and he’ll go against Tampa Bay’s Jalen Beeks.

Mets vs. Rays Odds

Mets odds to win: -158
Rays odds to win: +134
Spread: Mets -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Time: 7:10 PM ET
TV: SNY

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Who Will Win Mets vs. Rays?

Mets and Rays Betting Trends

The Mets have won 16 of the 31 games they were favored on the moneyline this season (51.6%).

New York has a record of 9-10 when it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -158 or shorter (47.4% winning percentage).

This season, the Rays have won two out of the four games in which they’ve been the underdog.

Tampa Bay has played as an underdog of +134 or more once this season and lost that game.

The Mets have played in 41 games with set over/under, and have combined with opponents to go over the total 18 times (18-22-1).

The Rays’ games have gone over the total in 23 of their 42 chances.

Mets Stats & Insights

The Mets are the 23rd-highest scoring team in baseball averaging 4.1 runs per game (174 total).

New York averages one home run per game to rank 22nd in MLB action with 41 total home runs .

The Mets are 16th in the majors with a .241 batting average.

New York’s batters strike out 7.5 times per game, the fourth-lowest average in MLB.

The 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Mets pitching staff ranks 13th in MLB.

New York has a 4.69 team ERA that ranks 25th across all MLB pitching staffs.

Rays Stats & Insights

No team has scored more than the 260 runs the Rays have this season.

No team in MLB has hit more homers than Tampa Bay, which has connected on 81 dingers this season.

The Rays rank first in the majors with a .275 team batting average.

Tampa Bay ranks 15th with an average of 8.5 strikeouts per game.

The Rays strike out 8.6 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 16th in MLB.

Tampa Bay has pitched to a 3.26 ERA this season, which ranks first in baseball.

Mets Key Players to Watch

Verlander (1-1) gets the starting nod for the Mets, his third this season.

Pete Alonso leads New York in home runs with 13 and runs batted in with 31.

Nimmo is batting .316 to lead New York, while adding three homers and 18 runs batted in this season.

Francisco Lindor leads New York in RBI with 31 while batting .224 with six home runs.

Jeff McNeil is batting .270 with an OBP of .356 and a slugging percentage of .362 this season.

Rays Key Players to Watch

The Rays will hand the ball to Beeks (1-2) for his fourth start of the season.

Diaz paces the Rays with 10 home runs while accumulating a team-high batting average of .321.

Wander Franco has 15 doubles, seven home runs and 12 walks while batting .301.

Randy Arozarena leads the Rays in home runs (10) and runs batted in (35).

Josh Lowe is hitting .306 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 10 walks.

Mets and Rays Injuries

Mets: Tomás Nido: 10 Day IL (Eye), Tim Locastro: 10 Day IL (Back), Jimmy Yacabonis: 15 Day IL (Quadricep), Edwin Uceta: 15 Day IL (Ankle), Carlos Carrasco: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Omar Narváez: 60 Day IL (Calf), Stephen Ridings: 60 Day IL (Lat), Sam Coonrod: 60 Day IL (Lat), Bryce Montes de Oca: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Elieser Hernandez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Edwin Díaz: 60 Day IL (Knee), José Quintana: 60 Day IL (Rib), Daniel Vogelbach: day-to-day (Undisclosed)

Rays: Tyler Glasnow: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Drew Rasmussen: 60 Day IL (Flexor strain), Jeffrey Springs: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Garrett Cleavinger: 60 Day IL (Knee), Shane Baz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shawn Armstrong: 60 Day IL (Neck), Andrew Kittredge: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Yandy Díaz: day-to-day (Groin)