The Tampa Bay Rays are making it tough on oddsmakers and handicappers because a few times a week the team goes with an “opener” for just an inning or two and then switches to another pitcher. That will be the case on Tuesday, with the Rays as home underdogs on the MLB Lines against the LA Dodgers.
How to Bet Dodgers vs Rays MLB Week 8 Betting Lines & Game Info
Cody Bellinger is the first @Dodgers player to have 40+ runs and 40+ RBIs by this point in the season since Duke Snider in 1955 pic.twitter.com/rwuKQHQpwn
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) 20 de mayo de 2019
- When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Tropicana Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Clayton Kershaw/Hunter Wood
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 95.3 WDAE
- MLB Week 8 Betting Lines: TBA
Red Sox vs Blue Jays MLB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
The Dodgers come in after taking two of three in Cincinnati over the weekend. L.A. has a terrific rookie in Alex Verdugo. He went 2-for-4 and matched a season-high with three RBIs on Sunday. Verdugo opened the scoring with an RBI double off Reds starter Tanner Roark in the second inning and capped it off as well with a two-run double off reliever Robert Stephenson in the ninth. The 23-year-old outfielder rarely strikes out and has flashed an impressive blend of speed and pop, hitting .323/.370/.532 with 17 runs scored, four homers, 23 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases in 135 plate appearances.
Cody Bellinger is playing like an MVP. He hit his 17th homer of the season Sunday. The 23-year-old slugger is now tied with Astros’ outfielder George Springer for second place and trails reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich by a pair of dingers for the major-league lead this season. Perhaps his most impressive achievement so far is that he’s walked (27) nearly as many times as he’s struck out (28) through 194 plate appearances. He owns a .405/.485/.791 triple-slash line.
In the month of May, Dodger relievers have posted a 2.06 ERA, which ranks third in the majors behind the Mets (1.74) and Rays (1.88). They also have a .198 batting average against in May, ranking 5th in MLB.
It’s lefty and three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on the mound. He will make his seventh start, after facing the Padres last Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, earning his third win after allowing three earned runs on five hits in 7.0 innings of work. He struck out five batters against one walk on 98 pitches.
In six starts this season, Kershaw has gone 3-0 with a 3.40 ERA (15 ER/ 39.2 IP), posting a 0.96 WHIP and limiting opposing batters to a .217 average. He has made just one career start against the Rays on Aug. 11, 2013, at Dodger Stadium, taking the win after tossing 8.0 innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight batters against two walks on 103 pitches.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.19
- Hits: 8.35
- Walks: 4.10
- Strike Outs: 7.98
Defense
- Runs: 3.83
- Hits: 7.25
- Walks: 2.29
- Strike Outs: 8.81
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Rays lost two of three over the weekend at the Yankees. Brandon Lowe went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday’s loss. In a game which saw several back-and-forth lead changes early on, Lowe’s three-run home run off of Nestor Cortes with one out in the third inning jumped the Rays to a 5-3 advantage. That lead would not last for long, as the Yankees had a seven-run sixth inning. The home run was his 10th of the season and boosted his RBI total to 27 in 40 games played.
Third baseman Yandy Diaz is considered day-to-day with a left-hand contusion after leaving Sunday’s game against the Yankees after being drilled by a pitch. Diaz has also battled an ankle injury this week, which also appears to be a minor issue. In 43 games this season, the Rays have yielded 3 runs or fewer 28 times (65.1 pct.), 2 runs or fewer 22 times (51.2 pct.) and 1 run or fewer 16 times (37.2 pct.)—all of these are the most in the majors.
The Rays are 5-8 all-time against the Dodgers (4-4 at home, 1-4 on the road). This will be the fourth series between the clubs at Tropicana Field, following June 10-12, 2002 (1-2), June 22-24, 2007 (2-1) and May 3-4, 2016 (1-1). The club’s 5 wins against the Dodgers are tied for their fewest ever against a single opponent (Reds).
The Rays are 8-3 in interleague play this season (4-2 at home, 4-1 on the road), passing their wins total from last year (7-13). They are 125-96 (.566) in IL play since 2008 — 5th-best in the majors — and 199-200 all-time. The Rays have a 1.38 ERA (104-IP, 16-ER) in interleague play, yielding 1 run or fewer in seven of 11 games.
Hunter Wood will serve as the Rays’ opener on Tuesday. It will be the second time this season that Wood has been an opener. He remains unscored upon in 7 1/3 innings for the Rays this season. Wood is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA (15-IP, 6-ER) in nine career starts, all 2 IP or fewer, and 2-0 with a 2.94 ERA (33.2-IP, 11-ER) in 26 appearances out of the bullpen.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.43
- Hits: 8.61
- Walks: 3.73
- Strike Outs: 9.59
Defense
- Runs: 3.20
- Hits: 7.09
- Walks: 2.89
- Strike Outs: 10.09
Dodgers vs Rays MLB Week 8 Betting Trends
- Dodgers are 20-7 in Kershaw’s last 27 Tuesday starts
- Rays are 10-3 in their last 13 vs. National League West
- Dodgers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games this season
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers’ last 6 games against an opponent in the American League
- Rays are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against an opponent in the National League
- The total has gone OVER in 10 of Tampa Bay’s last 14 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Dodgers vs Rays
LA Dodgers 5 – Tampa Bay Rays 3
