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The Tampa Bay Rays travel to south Florida to take on the Miami Marlins Wednesday night. Check out our MLB odds series as we hand out a Rays-Marlins prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.
The Rays will have Zach Eflin start. The Marlins will hand the ball to Braxton Garrett.
Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Rays-Marlins Odds
Tampa Bay Rays: -1.5 (+134)
Moneyline: -132
Miami Marlins: +1.5 (-162)
Moneyline: +112
Over: 7.5 (-105)
Under: 7.5 (-115)
How to Watch Rays vs. Marlins
Time: 7:40 PM ET/4:40 PM PT
TV: Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports Florida
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Rays Will Cover The Spread/Win
Eflin will toe the rubber for the first time since May 18. The Rays are happy to have him back as he is one of their better pitchers in the starting rotation. Before he got hurt, Eflin had a 4.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts to just four walks on the season. His command is elite, but he does strikeout less than one batter per inning. He is a pitcher that has to generate weak contact. Luckily, the Marlins have an average exit velocity of just 88.6 mph. If Eflin can keep Miami off the barrel, the Rays should be able to win this game.
The Marlins are batting below .240 on the season. Miami also has the third-worst slugging percentage, ninth-worst hard hit percentage, the fewest walks, and the highest chase percentage. Eflin does get batters to chase more than 30 percent of the time, so he should be able to get the Marlins to chase some pitches in this game. He will not have to have a big strikeout game if he can generate weak contact and get the Marlins to get themselves out. If Eflin does this, the Rays are going to win the game.
Why The Marlins Will Cover The Spread/Win
After rough first two starts, Braxton Garrett has really settled in. In his last two starts, Garrett threw a complete game shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and five strong innings against the San Diego Padres. In those two games combined, Garrett has thrown 14 innings, allowed just one earned run on ten hits, struck out eight, and walked zero. With the way he is throwing, the Marlins are going to have a chance to win this game. Keep in mind, the Marlins have won all four of his starts this season.
The Rays are not having a great offensive year this season. Tampa Bay is batting under .240, and they have the third-w0rst slugging percentage in the MLB. The Marlins are bottom-5 in the MLB in home runs, and doubles. Garrett should be able to keep the ball in the yard, and keep the Rays from getting extra bases. If he can continue to pitch as he has been, the Marlins are going to win this game.
Final Rays-Marlins Prediction & Pick
It feels a bit strange betting on the Marlins to beat the Rays. However, the Rays are not having a great season, and the Garrett has the hot hand. It is Eflin's first start back, as well, so it is tough to say how long he is going to be able to go. I am going to ride the hot hand in this game. I will take the Marlins to win this game straight up.
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Final Rays-Marlins Prediction & Pick: Marlins ML (+112)
