Bryan Armetta offers up a preview, prediction and pick for Tuesday\u2019s MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.<\/p>\n
World Series contenders are set to clash this evening in Chavez Ravine. The Rays (41-28) are a surprise, hanging around in the wide-open American League. Still, Tampa Bay has plenty to prove between now and October. The Dodgers (46-27) are, well, the Dodgers. Two time defending champions tend to make for difficult opponents. Look no further than Los Angeles\u2019 4-3, series-opening win on Monday. Can the visitors even things up tonight in SoCal?<\/p>\n
The Dodgers are favorites (-149)<\/a> over the Rays, with the over\/under set at eight runs<\/a>. Below, I\u2019ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday\u2019s interleague showdown between Tampa Bay and Los Angeles on DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rays vs. Dodgers pick, best bet<\/p>\n Rays vs. Dodgers under 8.5 runs (-129)<\/a>: Rasmussen is a borderline elite starter. Even against Los Angeles\u2019 loaded lineup, he should hold his own on Tuesday. As for Wrobleski, he\u2019s continuing to earn trust in this Dodgers rotation. Tampa Bay\u2019s offense has been fortunate so far. Struggles against left-handed pitching, at a spacious park, suggest a limited offensive output.<\/p>\n Rays vs. Dodgers prediction, preview<\/p>\n The strength of this Tampa Bay squad is, to the shock of no one, pitching. Drew Rasmussen has a claim as the most underrated starter in all of baseball. The former All-Star, when healthy, is a legitimate top of the rotation arm. Through 73.0 innings this season, he\u2019s recorded a 2.71 ERA, 77 strikeouts (9.5 K\/9) and an American League-leading 0.88 WHIP. The veteran also paces the Junior Circuit with a minuscule 6.3 hits per nine innings ratio. Rasmussen also ranks within the 90th percentile in average exit velocity (86.6 MPH) and walk rate (4.6%).<\/p>\n Even for a lineup as talented as Los Angeles\u2019, runs could be difficult to come by tonight. Regardless, the defending champions aren\u2019t intimidated by anyone. They\u2019re second in runs scored (390), second in home runs (101) and first in OPS (.787) this season. The absence of Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) hurts, but it\u2019s not a major blow by any means. Rasmussen throws three different variations of a fastball: the cutter (33%), four-seamer (27%) and sinker (22%). Against those three offerings, the Dodgers have put up a .283\/.373\/.492 slash line. Still, this won\u2019t be a walk in the park. Rasmussen has delivered quality starts against elite lineups such as the Brewers and Yankees.<\/p>\n On an LA squad overflowing with star power, Justin Wrobleski isn\u2019t a household name. Don\u2019t let the southpaw\u2019s low profile fool you; he\u2019s proven to be a difference maker. Over 73.1 innings of work (11 starts), the 25-year-old has a 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 45 strikeouts (5.5 K\/9). What Wrobleski lacks in whiffs, he makes up for with superior command and weak contact. The third-year pro has produced terrific 2.0 BB\/9 and 0.7 HR\/9 ratios. He\u2019s allowed more than three earned runs in just three of his 12 appearances so far.<\/p>\n