Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 5/18/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Detroit (+110) Tampa Bay (-130)

The Tampa Bay Rays (21-15) will play the Detroit Tigers (13-23) at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. The line on this matchup has Detroit at +110 while Tampa Bay is sitting at -130. The total comes in at 6.5. The starting pitchers are Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Rasmussen.

Detroit has a slugging rate of .318 and have struck out 299 times, while being walked on 99 occasions. They have earned 101 RBI's in addition to 260 base knocks this season, and their average at the plate is .224. The Tigers have recorded 46 doubles as a unit and have knocked 18 balls out of the stadium. They are sitting with 103 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .290. As a team, the Detroit Tigers are putting up 2.9 runs per game, which has them sitting at 30th in MLB.

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The Tigers have an earned run average of 3.38 on the campaign (6th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 267 batters. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.38 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.17. Tigers pitchers have conceded 32 home runs and 135 total runs (9th in the league). They have walked 112 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 3.83 as a squad on the season.

The Tigers bullpen have accumulated a save rate of 66.7% and has come into the game in 33 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 41 runners this season and 19.5% of them crossed home plate. Tigers bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with players on base 26 times in addition to having 38 appearances in high leverage situations. The Tigers have sent 127 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have accumulated 20 holds for the year (14th in baseball). They have recorded 8 saves so far this season and have not converted 4 of their 12 save opportunities.

The Tigers have transformed 72.9% of balls in play into outs in their 2,829 innings on the field, which ranks them 3rd in baseball. The Detroit Tigers have earned 943 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 303 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .984 which has them ranked 19th in baseball, and have a total of 25 double plays.

Rodriguez has taken the mound for 895 innings and has racked up 926 K's in his career. His earned run average is 4.14 (412 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.308. He has given up 862 base hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 309 walks. Rodriguez (65-41 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.83 while he has faced 3,811 hitters during his time in the majors.

The Tampa Bay Rays have accounted for an on-base percentage of .300 as well as a batting average of .234 on the year. They have struck out on 312 occasions (9th in baseball) and have recorded 279 base hits. Tampa Bay has hit 32 HRs this season and 137 runs batted in. The Rays have a SLG% of .375 and they average 4.11 runs per contest (14th in MLB). They have hit 57 doubles, while taking a walk 105 times and scoring 148 runs.

The Rays hold a team WHIP of 1.106 and have a FIP of 3.84 as a staff on the season. Their K/BB ratio is 3.44 (310 strikeouts vs 90 free passes). They are currently ranked 13th in the league as a staff in total hits given up with 263. They have surrendered 42 long balls and they allow 4.23 runs per 9 innings (17th in the league). The Tampa Bay pitching staff have relinquished 150 runs so far this season while having an ERA of 3.61 (128 earned runs yielded).

Tampa Bay has had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 17 save chances and they have recorded 11 saves. They are ranked 22nd in MLB with a save percentage of 64.7%, and they have sent 136 relief pitchers to the hill over the course of the season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 45 times in high leverage situations and also on 32 occasions with runners on base. Tampa Bay relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 16.3% of 43 inherited runners. Sitting with 41 save situations, the Rays have earned 23 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 19 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .985 (12th in pro baseball). The Rays have accrued 302 assists, 19 errors and have earned 958 putouts on the season. Out of their 2,874 innings played, the Rays are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 72.6% (4th in baseball).

During his MLB career, Rasmussen has surrendered 97 base knocks while earning 121 strikeouts in 125 innings. Rasmussen (8-2 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.17 ERA while allowing 7.0 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 44 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.112 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.3. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.88 and he has gone up against 511 opposing batters during his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Detroit (+110)

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