Diamondbacks at Rays Series Preview: Firing on All Cylinders

Diamondbacks Aim to Extend Streak Against Slumping Rays

The top two spots in the National League Wild Card are now firmly controlled by the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, both of whom have been on an absolute tear over the past three weeks.

Arizona has gone 18-3 in its last 21 games to build a comfortable cushion and close to within two games of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the NL West.

The Diamondbacks will try to keep it rolling this weekend against the slumping Tampa Bay Rays, who have lost seven of nine. This D’Backs vs Rays preview notes how Friday’s series opener is a pick’em, -110 to each side, with Arizona at+155 at -1.5 on the runline. The total is eight runs.

Arizona has won six in a row and is getting incredible offensive production from up and down its lineup even with power threat Christian Walker injured. MVP candidate Ketel Marte leads the way with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .298 average, and a .930 OPS. Guys like Joc Pederson, Jake McCarthy, and deadline pickup Josh Bell have all contributed too, making Arizona one of the more valuable MLB baseball parlay picks as of late.

The same cannot be said for the Rays. Tampa Bay has had trouble scoring runs all season but, in this recent stretch in which the Rays have gone 4-9, they have scored three runs or fewer 10 times. That just won’t cut it for a team with decent, but nothing special, pitching staff.

Diamondbacks’ Starters Have Done Just Enough

While the season-long stats for Arizona’s rotation are mediocre, they don’t capture how (as this D’Backs vs Rays preview notes) the Diamondbacks’ starters have been much better lately. They also haven’t had to pitch nearly as well because the offense has been so productive. Plus, the return of rotation mainstay Merrill Kelly has helped things out for Torey Lovullo and Co.

Arizona will have Ryne Nelson, Zac Gallen, and Kelly pitching this series against Tampa Bay’s Ryan Pepiot, Jeffrey Springs, and Taj Bradley. Considering that the Rays have scored the third-fewest runs in the Majors and are in the bottom third in almost every offensive category, this could be a spot where the Diamondbacks’ starters shine. They also only have to pitch as well as Arizona’s top-five offense needs.

When you have a leader for one of the MLB MVP awards in Marte, everyone else’s job becomes easier. Also, the Arizona bullpen — bolstered by deadline pickups A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro — is looking great now and has a bunch of guys with ERAs in the mid-3s or lower. Just about everything has been working for the Diamondbacks since the All-Star break.

How Will Rays Produce Runs?

If you want to side with Tampa Bay concerning this D’Backs vs Rays preview, then you’ll have to have some faith that the Rays can flip the script on their offensive struggles. How they’ll manage to do so is anyone’s guess, though, because Tampa Bay has the fifth-worst average and fifth-worst OPS in the Majors to go with the third-fewest runs and third-fewest home runs. They don’t get on base and don’t hit for much power. Not ideal.

What the Rays are good at is stealing bases, which they are fourth in baseball. A few guys who account for a lot of those steals — Randy Arozarena (traded), Amed Rosario (traded), Richie Palacios (injured) — won’t be factors in this series. But Tampa Bay is still a team with a lot of speed and the Rays will have to maximize that minor advantage if they’re going to push runs against Arizona, which has been unbeatable for three weeks.

Top prospect Junior Caminero, recently called up, could provide this offense with a much-needed spark. Brandon Lowe has also been the Rays’ most consistent overall weapon since he returned. Tampa Bay will have to put up some runs to try and slow down baseball’s hottest team.

Go With Arizona To Keep Cruising

As far as MLB betting picks go, taking the Diamondbacks recently has been as sure a thing as you can get. So, at +155 on the runline, they’re a great value even though they’d have to win by multiple runs. The Nelson-Pepiot pitching matchup is relatively neutral but what should put the Diamondbacks over the top is that their offense is humming along and getting contributions from pretty much everyone who slots into the lineup daily.

Marte is the main guy, of course, but there aren’t many weaknesses in the group right now which makes it even harder to pitch against them.

The over eight runs (even) is a smart play as well. The Rays may not contribute a ton to the total. However, Nelson has been vulnerable this year and the Diamondbacks have been scoring runs in bunches.

For MLB schedules, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Blue Jays vs Cubs Picks: Toronto Hits Windy City For Weekend Series
• Red Sox vs Orioles Betting: O’s Should Start Weekend Strong
• Twins vs Rangers MLB Picks: Minnesota Favored in Opener
• MLB: August 14th Weekly Home/Road Report
• MLB: August 13th Weekly Favorite / Dog Report

Subscribe to get

Thank you for subscribing