It is the start of an interleague weekend series as the New York Mets visit the Tampa Bay Rays. It is time to continue our MLB odds series with a Mets-Rays prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

The Mets will be finishing their three-game series with the Chicago Cubs before visiting Tampa Bay. They have lost two of three to the Cubs and are 15-15 heading into Thursday. The Mets will be sending Adrian Houser to the mound in the Thursday game. He is 0-3 with an 8.37 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Rays have finished a six-game road trip. They first were swept by the White Sox before losing two of three to the Brewers. The Rays are now 14-18 on the year, which is last in the AL East.

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Mets-Rays Odds

New York Mets: +1.5 (-188)

Moneyline: +120

Tampa Bay Rays: -1.5 (+155)

Moneyline: -142

Over: 7.5 (-120)

Under: 7.5 (-102)

How to Watch Mets vs. Rays

Time: 6:50 ET/3:50 PT

TV: Bally Sports Sun, SportsNet New York

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Mets Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Mets are 18th in the majors in runs scored this ear while sitting 18th in batting average, 14th in on-base percentage, and 18th in slugging. Brandon Nimmo has led the team in RBIs this year. He is hitting just .206 this year, but with four doubles a triple, and three home runs. This has led to 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored on the season. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso is second on the team in RBIs. Alonso is hitting .228 on the year, with a .321 on-base percentage. He has three doubles and Eight home runs, leading to his 15 RBIs. He is also the team leader in runs scored with 20 of them.

Starling Marte leads the team in batting and is second on the team in runs scored. He is hitting .278 on the year with a .316 on-base percentage. He has four doubles and four home runs, leading to 12 RBIs. Marte has also scored 16 times. Tied with him having 16 runs scored is Francisco Lindor. Lindor is hitting just .195 on the year but does have a .278 on-base percentage. He has four doubles and five home runs while driving in 11 runs this year. Lindor has also scored 16 times. Further, Marte and Lindor have combined to steal ten bases this year.

The Mets are eighth in team ERA, 15th in wHIP, and second in opponent batting average. The Mets are sending Jose Quintana to the mound in this one. He is 1-2 on the year with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Last time out, he went eight innings, giving up just one run. Members of the Rays have faced Quintana 18 times, with nine hits, a walk, and one RBI lifetime.

Why The Rays Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Rays enter the game sitting 20th in runs scored this year while sitting 17th in batting average, 23rd in on-base percentage, and 26th in slugging percentage. Isaac Paredes has been great this year for the Rays. He is hitting .291 on the year with a .358 on-base percentage. Paredes has three doubles and seven home runs, good for 17 RBIs this year. He has also scored 14 times on the season. Meanwhile, Amed Rosario is hitting .295 on the year with a .315 on-base percentage. He has five doubles a triple and two home runs on the year. That is good for 13 RBIs and eight runs scored. He has also stolen three bases.

Jose Caballero has also stolen plenty of bases this year. He has stolen nine bases on the year with a .265 batting average and a .290 on-base percentage. He also has five doubles a triple and two home runs. This has led to 12 RBIS and 12 runs scored on the season. Still, there are some struggles on the team. Randy Arozarena is hitting just .139 this year. He does have three home runs and nine RBIs though, with four stolen bases.

The Rays pitching is 25th in team ERA while sitting 23rd in WHIP and 22nd in opponent batting average. It will be Aaron Civale on the mound in this one. He is 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP on the year. In the last two starts, he has pitched just nine total innings, giving up 11 runs in those two games combined. Current Mets have just 12 career at-bats against Civale, hitting just .16 in those at-bats.

Final Mets-Rays Prediction & Pick

While the Mets have struggled some this year, the Rays have struggled more. Aaron Civale has been dreadful for the Rays this year, and while Jose Quintana has not been great, he has been much better. The Mets have more offensive weapons in this one, and even on the road, should be able to come away with the game.

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Final Mets-Rays Prediction & Pick: Mets +1.5 (-188)