New York Mets vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 9/2/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Mets vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: New York (-182) Tampa Bay (+150)

The New York Mets (62-76) are hitting the road to Tropicana Field on Wednesday where they will try to beat the Tampa Bay Rays (82-55). The moneyline on this matchup has the Mets at -182 while the Rays are at +150. The over/under has been set at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Justin Hagenman and Shane McClanahan.

New York has a slugging percentage of .389 and have struck out 1,175 times, while drawing a walk on 435 occasions. They have compiled 539 RBI's and 1,094 base knocks so far this year, and their batting average sits at .236. The Mets have accounted for 175 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 166 balls out of the park. They have tallied 565 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .305. As a squad, the New York Mets are putting up 4.1 runs per outing, which ranks them 26th in MLB.

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The Mets have an ERA of 4.07 for the season (13th in the league), and the staff has struck out 1,234 batters. Mets pitchers have allowed 151 home runs and also 617 runs in total (17th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 491 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.04 as a team so far this season. New York has given up 1,107 base knocks (8.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 556 earned runs. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.51 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.30.

The Mets relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 60.5% and have come into the game in 107 save situations. They have recorded 26 saves on the year and have missed out on 17 of their 43 save opportunities. The relievers have inherited 179 runners for the season and 27.9% of those runners crossing the plate. Mets pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 127 times and also have had 147 appearances in high leverage situations. The Mets have sent 425 relief pitchers to the mound this year. The bullpen have recorded 61 holds on the campaign (26th in MLB).

The New York Mets have amassed 3,689 putouts on the campaign, as well as 1,087 assists and 84 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .983 which puts them in 25th in the majors, and have a total of 83 double plays. The Mets have converted 69.6% of baseballs in play into outs in their 11,067 innings, which has them ranked 16th in pro baseball.

Hagenman has taken the hill for 23 innings and has tallied 23 punch outs so far in his career. His ERA is 4.66 (12 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.121. He has given up 24 hits (9.3 hits per nine innings) and has had 2 free passes. Hagenman (0-1 career mark) has a FIP of 4.59 while going up against 99 batters during his time in the major leagues.

The Rays have a slugging percentage of .403 and they are scoring 4.51 runs per contest (14th in baseball). They have notched 190 doubles, while taking a walk 441 times and putting up 618 runs. Tampa Bay has 142 home runs for the season as well as 586 runs batted in. They have struck out on 959 occasions (30th in MLB) and have a total of 1,197 hits. The Tampa Bay Rays have earned an OBP of .329 as well as a batting average of .260 over the course of the season.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff have surrendered 565 runs so far this year and come in with a team ERA of 3.76 (512 earned runs conceded). They have allowed 171 dingers and they allow 4.15 runs per 9 innings (8th in MLB). The Rays have a WHIP of 1.145 and have a FIP of 4.02 as a staff on the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.30 (1,123 strikeouts against 341 walks). They come in at 6th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,061.

Sitting with 173 save situations, the Rays have tallied 103 holds in addition to 16 blown saves. Tampa Bay has called on relievers to enter the contest in 70 save chances and they have tallied 54 saves. Tampa Bay bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 31.4% out of 159 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 133 times in high leverage situations and also on 112 occasions with runners on base. They are currently ranked 2nd in MLB with a save percentage of 77.1%, and they have dispatched 434 relief pitchers to the mound on the year.

The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 88 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .983 (24th in pro baseball). The Rays have racked up 1,084 assists, 82 errors and have earned a total of 3,672 putouts for the year. In their 11,016 innings on the diamond, the Rays are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 71.9% (3rd in pro baseball).

So far in his MLB career, McClanahan has given up 418 base hits while totaling 559 punch outs in 517 frames. McClanahan (43-22 mark in his career) has a 3.06 earned run average and has given up 7.3 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 176 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.106 and having a FIP of 3.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.63 and he has faced 2,093 batters thus far in his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (+150)

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