Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/20/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (-115) Chicago (-105)

The Tampa Bay Rays (5-6) are headed to Wrigley Field on Wednesday where they will meet the Chicago Cubs (6-4). The moneyline on this contest has Tampa Bay at -115 and Chicago is priced at -105. The total has been set at 8.5. The men taking the mound are Drew Rasmussen and Marcus Stroman.

The Rays have hit 19 doubles as a squad and have hit 7 baseballs out of the park. Tampa Bay has a slugging percentage of .365 and have been called out on strikes 103 times, while taking a walk on 37 occasions. As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are scoring 4.2 runs per game, which has them at 15th in MLB. They have 45 runs batted in in addition to 91 base knocks over the course of the season, and their average at the plate sits at .246. They have earned 46 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .314.

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The Rays have an earned run average of 3.62 on the campaign (13th in the league), and the staff has struck out 112 hitters. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.29 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.16. Rays pitchers have conceded 13 home runs and also 48 runs in total (24th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 34 players from the other team and their FIP is 3.77 as a team so far this season.

The Rays bullpen have recorded a save percentage of 50.0% and has entered the game in 10 save situations. The relievers have inherited 20 base runners so far this season with 20.0% of them crossed home plate. Rays relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 13 times as well as having 10 appearances in high leverage situations. The Rays have sent 43 relief pitchers to the mound so far this season. The relievers have racked up 6 holds over the course of the season (16th in MLB). They have compiled 2 saves on the campaign and have blown 2 of their 4 chances to get a save.

The Rays have turned 70.4% of baseballs in play into outs in their 873 innings on the diamond, ranking them 18th in pro baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays have notched a total of 291 putouts thus far, in addition to 89 assists and 7 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .982 which has them sitting 23rd in pro baseball, and they have twisted 6 double plays.

Rasmussen has taken the ball for 100 innings and has accumulated 99 K's thus far in his career. Rasmussen (5-2 career record) sits with a FIP of 3.57 while he has faced 415 opposing batters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 3.50 (39 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.166. He has allowed 82 base hits (7.4 hits per 9 innings) and has 35 free passes.

Chicago has accumulated 10 HRs this season to go along with 45 RBIs. They have hit 24 two-baggers, while taking a walk 37 times as well as racking up 48 runs. The Chicago Cubs have tallied a team OBP of .357 as well as a batting average of .277 for the year. The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .446 and they are scoring 4.80 runs per contest (8th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 80 occasions (20th in MLB) and have 92 base hits.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.322 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.92 as a staff on the season. Their K/BB ratio is 2.46 (86 strikeouts against 35 walks). They rank 21st in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 80. They have relinquished 10 homers and they relinquish 4.03 runs per 9 innings (12th in MLB). The Chicago pitching staff have yielded 39 runs on the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.03 (39 earned runs yielded).

With 16 save situations, the Cubs have recorded 6 holds and also 2 blown saves. Chicago has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 7 save chances and they have converted 5 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 15 times in high leverage situations and also on 13 occasions with runners on. Chicago relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.8% out of their 22 inherited base runners. They rank 14th in baseball with a save rate of 71.4%, and they have dispatched 35 relievers to the mound so far this season.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 12 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .997 (3rd in baseball). The Cubs have recorded 86 assists, 1 error and are sitting with 261 putouts for the season. In 783 innings played, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 69.6% (21st in MLB).

Stroman (61-61 career record) has earned a 3.65 earned run average and has given up 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.95 and he has gone up against 4,317 batters in his MLB career. He has allowed 421 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.267 and a FIP of 3.6. In his career, Stroman has surrendered 1,022 base knocks while tallying 860 punch outs in 1,037 innings.

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

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Chicago (-105) and under 8.5 runs

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