Rays vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, May 18, 2023

A pair of surging power hitters meet Thursday when Jose Siri — with his two-game homer streak in tow — and the Tampa Bay Rays (32-12) take on Pete Alonso (home runs in two straight) and the New York Mets (21-23). The Rays are favorites (-115) for the contest, which starts at 1:10 PM ET, live from Citi Field and broadcast on MLB Network.

Taj Bradley will get the ball for Tampa Bay while New York will counter with Tylor Megill.

Rays vs. Mets Odds

• Rays odds to win: -115
• Mets odds to win: -104
• Spread: Rays -1.5
• Total: 9 runs

Rays vs. Mets Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023
• Time: 1:10 PM ET
• TV: MLB Network

Who Will Win Rays vs. Mets?

Rays and Mets Betting Trends

The Rays have won 76.3% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (29-9).

Tampa Bay has gone 29-9 (winning 76.3% of its games) when playing as moneyline favorites of -115 or shorter.

This season, the Mets have been the underdog 10 times and won four of those games.

New York has a record of 2-5 in games where bookmakers have it as underdogs of at least -104 on the moneyline.

The Rays have played in 44 games with a set over/under, and have combined with their opponents to go over the total 25 times (25-16-3).

So far this season, the Mets and their opponents have hit the over in 20 of their 43 games with a total.

Rays Stats & Insights

The Rays have the most productive offense in MLB play scoring 6.3 runs per game (275 total runs).

The Tampa Bay Rays lead baseball with 86 total home runs, averaging two per game.

The Rays lead the majors with a .275 batting average.

Tampa Bay’s 8.6 strikeouts per game rank 16th in MLB.

The pitching staff for the Rays has a collective 8.6 K/9, which ranks 18th in MLB.

Tampa Bay has a 3.39 team ERA that ranks second across all MLB pitching staffs.

Mets Stats & Insights

The Mets have scored 187 runs (4.3 per game) this season, which ranks 20th in MLB.

New York ranks 17th in Major League Baseball with 47 home runs.

The Mets have a team batting average of .240 this season, which ranks 20th among MLB teams.

New York has shown good bat-to-ball skills at the plate this season with the third-best strikeout rate (7.5 per game) among MLB offenses.

The Mets strike out 8.8 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, 13th in MLB.

New York pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.78 ERA this year, which ranks 25th in MLB.

Rays Key Players to Watch

Bradley will start for the Rays, his first this season.

Yandy Diaz is batting .321 this season with 10 home runs, both best among Tampa Bay hitters.

Wander Franco has 49 hits and an OBP of .351 to go with a slugging percentage of .500 this season.

Randy Arozarena leads Tampa Bay in home runs (10) and runs batted in (36) this season while batting .310.

Josh Lowe is batting .300 with an OBP of .364 and a slugging percentage of .600 this season.

Mets Key Players to Watch

Megill (4-2) will take the mound for the Mets, his ninth start of the season.

Alonso paces the Mets with 15 home runs and 36 runs batted in.

Brandon Nimmo’s .299 batting average paces his team.

Francisco Lindor is hitting .229 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 15 walks.

Jeff McNeil is hitting .277 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs and 16 walks.

Rays and Mets Injuries

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)

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)

Rays vs. Mets Prediction

Score Prediction: Rays 5, Mets 3

Total Prediction: Under 9 runs

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