Ryan Pepiot Set to Make Another Start for The Rays on Saturday!
Read About The Giants vs Rays Preview To See Which Team Has The Edge

The San Francisco Giants will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a weekend-long interleague series. The Giants and Rays have both started their seasons poorly.
However, the good news is that both MLB teams still have 149 games left on the regular season schedule.
It doesn’t matter how you start, but it always matters how you finish.
Take a look at our Giants vs Rays preview for this intriguing interleague battle, which will feature many exciting starting pitchers. We’ll also provide our best baseball bets today.
Giants vs Rays 
Day/Time:
Records: Giants (5-8)/Rays (7-6)
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Streaming: Bally Sports Sun, NBCS BA
There Will Be No Changes to San Francisco’s Lineup
It’s no secret that the Giants have struggled to find their offense to begin the MLB season. The team is more than a couple of games below .500 but leads the majors in hard-hit percentage and is second in hard-hit outs.
Something has got to give. Therefore, manager Bob Melvin will not make many adjustments to the lineup. He will trust that the results will eventually show.
Ryan Pepiot’s Growth
The Tampa Bay Rays struck a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers to bring in Ryan Pepiot, a young starter. He’s always been a highly regarded right-handed pitcher, but he wasn’t super consistent when he pitched in Los Angeles.
So far this year, things are looking bright. Pepiot helped the Rays to a 3-2 win over the Rockies in his most recent start. He struck out 11 batters and walked no one while allowing only three hits.
After the game, it was noted that he was the first opponent at Coors Field to have a scoreless outing with no walks and ten or more strikeouts. Only German Marquez and Jon Gray (of the Rockies) have achieved such a feat.
Pepiot is in line to start this series for the Rays on Saturday.
Giants vs Rays Preview & Odds For Game 1: RL: Giants -1.5 (+150) ML: Giants -110, O/U 8.5 -105/-115.
Series Price: Giants -115, Rays -125.
âš¾ Game 1 âš¾
- Friday, 6:50 pm ET
- Keaton Winn vs. Jacob Waguespack/Tyler Alexander
The Giants will likely send out Keaton Winn for the first game of this weekend’s series against the Rays. Winn has a 5.73 ERA in two starts for the Giants. He’s pitched 11 innings and has allowed only seven hits. But he’s also earned just seven strikeouts with four walks and one home run.
The right-hander has still added 58.1% of ground balls and has held line drives to just 9.7%. Therefore, it’s safe to assume he’ll achieve better results as the season goes on.
That said, the Rays’ projected lineup against righties has hit a .186 ISO and wOBA of .333 dating back to last season. The lineup between Brandon Lowe, Isaac Pardes, Richie Palacios, and Jose Siri has much power potential.
Meanwhile, it’ll likely be Tyler Alexander of the Rays for the bulk of today’s game. Jacob Waguespack is expected to start, but Alexander should be the pitcher with the most innings thrown in this one. The left-handed thrower has thrown 9.1 innings but has an 8.68 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP to begin the season. He’s allowed 14 hits and four home runs in those 9.1 innings.
Ultimately, the power is coming from the back directions. He’s faced 46 batters this season and has allowed a .357 ISO and wOBA of .461, with only 17.6% of grounders induced and more than 35% of line drives allowed.
The projected lineup for the Giants has smashed a .213 ISO and wOBA of .344 against lefties. While San Francisco has a high strikeout rate against lefties, there’s nothing to worry about going up against Alexander. We’d back the Giants in Game 1, knowing that the MLB live scores should be popping when the Giants are at bat.
âš¾ Game 2 âš¾
- Saturday, 4:10 pm ET
- Logan Webb vs Ryan Pepiot
In Game 2, the Giants will throw their ace on the mound. Logan Webb doesn’t have ace-like numbers right now. Instead, he’s got a 4.86 ERA through three starts and has allowed 22 hits in 16.2 innings.
Webb has kept walks down but has allowed 33.9% of line drives. Webb is typically a very good ground ball pitcher, but he’s giving up more line drives than he did last year, which is hurting him right now.
Meanwhile, the Rays are hoping Ryan Pepiot becomes their ace soon. He was traded to the Rays in the trade that sent Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers. Pepiot has looked really good despite his 4.63 ERA. He’s thrown 11.2 innings for the Rays and has allowed just seven hits with four walks. Pep also struck out 14 batters.
He’s currently averaging 31.8% strikeouts and has held opponents to a .240 wOBA. Pepiot has a bright future with the Rays.
On the other hand, the Giants don’t have nearly as much power against righties as they do against lefties. Pepiot and the Rays have the edge in Game 2. This will be one of the better baseball games today.
âš¾ Game 3 âš¾
- Sunday, 1:40 pm ET
- Blake Snell vs Zach Eflin
Finally, Blake Snell will get his second start of the season for the Giants. He only lasted three innings in his first start and had a 9.00 ERA with a 1.67 WHIP. While he struck out five batters in three innings, Snell also allowed three hits, three runs, and two walks in that start.
He’ll likely pitch at least five innings in this start against the Rays. Let’s also not forget that Snell was the NL MVP last season after adding 31.4% of strikeouts the previous year.
While the Rays have had more success against righties, hitters like Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena, and Palacios still have potential against Snell in this game. Just don’t count on them too much against the former Cy Young.
The left-handed Snell will face Rays pitcher Zach Eflin. Eflin has already started three MLB games this season, but he’s struggled against righties, allowing a .279 ISO and a wOBA of .414. His ERA is currently 6.35 through 17 innings after he has allowed 20 hits and 12 runs in those innings.
This could be a fun rubber match between the two squads. Right now, we’d trust Snell and the Giants slightly more per our Giants vs Rays preview.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- Tigers vs Twins Betting Preview: AL Central Leading Twins Favored At Home
- World Series Game 4: Phillies vs Astros Betting Odds, Pick
- Yankees vs Astros Game Betting: Astros Perfect in Playoffs, Yankees Looking to Change That
- Yankees vs Rays Series Odds: Baseball Preview
- Yankees vs Red Sox Series Odds: Boston Looking to Play Spoiler