The MLB\u2019s trade deadline came and went yesterday, letting contenders load up while other teams sold. The Tampa Bay Rays loaded up with some additional talent with a splash acquisition, but the Colorado Rockies decided to look toward more prospects for the future. On Tuesday night, these teams clash at Coors Field with first pitch set for 8:40 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive in with a preview, prediction and pick for tonight\u2019s Rays vs. Rockies game courtesy of odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.<\/p>\n
Rays vs. Rockies prediction, preview<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in baseball this season at 66-46, sitting atop the entire AL and holding the Eastern lead by 3.5 games. With a +35 run differential, the Rays may not be dominating on a nightly basis, but they\u2019re getting the job done \u2013 after trading for Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks and more, they may be even better moving forward. Colorado, however, was unsurprisingly a seller by shipping out Brenton Doyle and Viktor Vodnik, among others. The Rockies are just 45-68 with a -102 differential, but that\u2019s not exactly a shocker by now given the results this season.<\/p>\n
As for tonight. Tampa Bay starts its new acquisition as Peralta (5-9) takes the mound. It\u2019s been a frustrating season for him with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP, but his strikeout stuff remains somewhat intact with 113 Ks over 113.2 IP. Perhaps the Rays\u2019 pitching staff can help him get back on track and regain his career-best form from last year. As for their bullpen, the unit ranks 16th in ERA at 4.11 with a nice 1.20 WHIP, plus a 13.8% K-BB%.<\/p>\n
For Colorado, it\u2019s rookie RHP Gabriel Hughes (0-3) with the ball in his hand. He\u2019s thrown 24.1 innings over five games with four starts, also picking up a save. The ERA is 3.33 with a 1.19 WHIP, and he\u2019s struck out 21 hitters as well. The K% is 21.2% with a 7.1% BB%. The club\u2019s bullpen remains a major issue though, falling to 27th in ERA at 4.98 with a 1.49 WHIP and a 10.4% K-BB%.<\/p>\n
It could be quite the night for offense here as well. Coors Field is, of course, a notoriously hitter-friendly ballpark, and both lineups have high potential on any given evening. They\u2019re both top 10 in OPS with Colorado fifth (.746) and Tampa Bay ninth (.732), averaging 4.84 and 4.44 runs per game, respectively. The Rockies are a power-hitting group with the third-highest slugging percentage, plus a .166 ISO that sits 10th and a respectable 128 home runs. The Rays are the inverse, with a .144 ISO that sits 26th and just 114 dingers, though an 0.45 BB\/K ratio and an MLB-best 19.1% K% keep the OBP up at fifth best (.329)<\/p>\n
Rays vs. Rockies pick, best bet<\/p>\n
DraftKings Sportsbook sets the Rays as a -164 Moneyline favorite on the road, while the Rockies enter as +154 underdogs to win at their own ballpark. The run total comes in at 11 tonight.<\/p>\n
Last night, these clubs combined for a staggering 22 runs as Tampa Bay claimed a 13-9 victory at Coors Field. We may not see such a striking output with some better pitchers on the mound than yesterday, but the over on the Rays\u2019 team total of 6.5 still feels very obtainable as a plus-value play. They\u2019re up against an inexperienced young starter and they\u2019re slashing .264\/.336\/.420 for a .755 OPS, plus a slightly elevated .156 ISO against right-handers. Moreover, their 111 wRC+ ranks third best among all MLB clubs in this split. That\u2019s certainly something the visitors can capitalize on against one of the worst bullpens in baseball at a friendly park, too. There\u2019s good value here, especially after adding a hitter like Hicks to this lineup yesterday, assuming he debuts.<\/p>\n