Can The Reds Win Series at Tampa Bay For First Time Since 2011
Reds vs Rays Series Preview Has Friday's Opener As a Pick'em

Cincinnati Looks To Keep Delivering The Hits In Road Series vs Rays
The Cincinnati Reds are no longer in last place in the National League Central Division after taking two games from the Atlanta Braves.
- Can the Reds keep it going on the road against a Tampa Bay team that just moved over the .500 mark? The Reds vs Rays series preview has Cincinnati priced at -120 to win the weekend series with the Rays at -110.
This will be the first road series for Cincinnati against Tampa Bay since 2017 when the Rays won two of the three games.
Dating back to the 2022 season, Cincinnati has won four of the last six meetings with the Rays with four of those games going under the total.
When looking at MLB public betting options, the Reds and Rays both at -110 to win the series opener with Cincinnati priced at +160 at -1.5 on the run line with Nick Lodolo and Shane Baz set to take the mound.
Tampa Bay will move forward without outfielder Randy Arozarena as he was traded to Seattle for a pair of prospects and a player to be named later.
When looking at the MLB playoff scenarios, both the Reds and Rays are priced at +20000 in the odds of winning the World Series.
Reds vs Rays 
📊Records: Cincinnati Reds 49-53 at Tampa Bay Rays 52-51
⏰Day/Time:
📍Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
📺Streaming: Friday – Bally Sports Ohio
Reds vs Rays Probable Starting Pitchers
- Friday: Nick Lodolo (Reds); Shane Baz (Rays)
- Saturday: Andrew Abbott (Reds); Zack Littell (Rays)
- Sunday: Hunter Greene (Reds); TBA (Rays)
MLB Bet 2 (7/26)
Nick Lodolo U17.5 Outs
CIN @ TB
(+112)Nick has been great on the road this year but too many things align for him to go under today. He’s under in 7 of his 15 starts and is often held on a short leash and taken out before his pitch count gets high. With a… pic.twitter.com/FpWtbjw1Kq
— The Process Picks (@TheProcessPicks) July 26, 2024
Youngsters Ready to Pitch in for Reds
There are plenty of reasons why the future looks so bright for the Cincinnati Reds. The three probable starting pitchers in this series are a good place to start.
Nick Lodolo, a 26-year-old lefty, has eight wins even with no decisions in each of his last three starts. After five straight starts allowing two runs or less, Lodolo has an ERA of 6.05 ERA in his last four games.
- Andrew Abbott, a 25-year-old lefty, is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.31 in four July starts as he goes after his 10th win while 24-year-old Hunter Greene has allowed a total of four runs over his last four starts.
That is something to consider when looking at the Reds vs Rays series preview.
Eight of Cincinnati’s last 11 games went under the total.
Baz is Happy to Be Back
Shane Baz had no way of knowing that when he gave up eight hits and seven runs while recording just seven outs in a loss to Cincinnati more than two years ago, it would be the first time he would get to pitch in an MLB game for a while.
He returned after missing nearly two full years in a loss to reigning World Series champion Texas on July 5.
He is coming off his best outing in his three appearances as he gave up four hits and no runs in 3.1 innings against the New York Yankees. Will that strong effort factor into the Reds vs Rays series preview?
He didn’t factor into the decision as Tampa Bay beat the Yankees twice with Baz on the mound. Baz has been held under 80 pitches in each of his last two games as the Rays are being careful with a pitcher who was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in three starts in 2021.
Five of Tampa Bay’s last six games finished over the total.
Who’s Hot
- Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds SS: De La Cruz is 17-for-45 with 10 runs, nine extra-base hits, six RBIs and eight stolen bases during an 11-game hitting streak.
- Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds P: Greene has allowed two runs or less in six of his last seven starts with 49 strikeouts in 40 innings.
- Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays 2B: Lowe is 14-for-41 with six runs, four home runs, and eight RBIs in his last 11 games.
- Edwin Uceta, Tampa Bay Rays P: Uceta has given up five hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings over his last seven appearances.
Who’s Not
- Fernando Cruz, Cincinnati Reds P: Cruz has given up eight hits and six runs in 5.2 innings over his last previous nine outings.
- Kevin Kelly, Tampa Bay Rays P: Kelly has surrendered 12 hits, three home runs, and eight runs over his last 7.1 innings.
- Noelvi Marte, Cincinnati Reds 3B: Marte is 4-for-21 with six strikeouts in his last six games.
- Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays SS: Walls is 1-for-22 with six strikeouts in his last eight games.
Reds vs Rays Injury Update
Outfielder TJ Friedl and catcher Luke Maile join pitchers Emilio Pagan, Carson Spiers, and Brent Suter on the injured list for the Reds.
First baseman Yandy Diaz is out as are pitchers Richard Lovelady, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.
Reds vs Rays Betting Preview
There are some intriguing starting pitchers in this MLB matchup as Cincinnati looks to win a series on the road against the Rays for the first time since 2011.
Cincinnati has the second-best slugging percentage in the majors in July while Tampa Bay is sixth in the majors with a 3.62 ERA in July.
Cincinnati’s Rece Hinds, Elly De La Cruz, Jake Fraley, and Santiago Espinal all have a slugging percentage of .600 or higher in July.
When looking at the MLB stat leaders, Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz leads the majors with 51 stolen bases. That is more than six major league teams.
Four of Tampa Bay’s last five home games went under the total with the total set at 7.5 for the series opener. Four of Cincinnati’s last six road games went over the total so one of these trends will need to change.
Cincinnati is among the MLB leaders with a 33-16 record against the run line on the road. Tampa Bay has covered in just 20 of 54 home games.
With the Reds set to start a pair of lefties in the series, keep in mind that the Rays are 17-9 against left-handed starting pitchers this season.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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