The Rays (66-45, 29-26 away) travel to take on the Tigers (48-60, 22-30 home) in game one of this American League matchup. Zack Littell is getting the start for the Rays while Reese Olson is starting for the Tigers. See who I like to pick up the win in today’s Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers showdown at Comerica Park.

TAMPA BAY RAYS VS DETROIT TIGERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 Runs

This game will be played at Comerica Park at 6:40 ET on Friday, August 4th.

WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY RAYS:

  • The Rays will be taking on a Tigers club that is just 1-2 vs. the runline in their last three games.
  • As the road favorite, the Rays’ runline win streak currently stands at two games.
  • Opponents are hitting a healthy .304 against Reese Olson in his last three starts.

TAMPA BAY RAYS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS ON THE ROAD

Entering game 112 of their season, the Rays are two games out in the AL East and are in 2nd place. So far, their overall series record stands at 18-11-5. Tampa Bay’s road winning percent is currently 52.7% (29-26) compared to 66.1% at home (37-19).

Zack Littell has appeared in 17 games this season, with a record of 1-2. He has not allowed a home-run in his last two outings and his slugging percentage allowed is currently .461. The right-hander has struck out 30 batters and his WHIP stands at 1.48.

The Rays emerged victorious in Zack Littell’s last start, defeating the Astros 8-2. The right-hander pitched five innings, surrendering eight hits and two earned runs to earn his sixth win of the season.

The Rays have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 14 home runs over their last ten games. Compared to other clubs, this is 6th best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 4th in home runs and 4th in slugging percentage. Overall, Tampa Bay is averaging 5.2 runs per game (4th).

Wander Franco has been one of the Tampa Bay Rays’ most potent offensive weapons in 2023. He currently boasts a .267 batting average, with 51 runs batted in and 14 home runs.

WILL THE DETROIT TIGERS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

On a record of 48-60, the Tigers are 3rd in the AL Central. At home, they have put together a win percent of 42.3% compared to 46.4% on the road. This season, Detroit has gone 22-41 against teams who are above .500, and hold an overall series record of 15-18-3.

Reese Olson has made 12 appearances this season, with a record of 1-4. His ERA stands at 4.71, and opponents are batting .236 against him. On the road, Olson is 0-2 with an ERA of 4.04; at home, he is 1-2 with an ERA of 5.98. Teams have a slugging percentage of .421 against him for the year.

Reese Olson’s last outing was a tough one, as he surrendered four runs on eight hits in six innings of work against the Marlins. Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on his effort, as they fell 6-5 in the contest. Despite not factoring into the decision, Olson’s performance was admirable.

This season, the Tigers are 26th in the league at 3.9 runs per game. Over their last ten games, they have a combined batting average of .243 (16th) leading to 4.1 runs per contest. Overall, they are generating 3.1 walks per game compared to 8 strikeouts. Detroit’s on-base percentage of .299 has them 19th in the MLB.

Over the last ten games, Riley Greene has been a force for the Tigers, leading the team in home runs with two and boasting a season-long total of nine. His overall batting average stands at an impressive .306.