Rays vs. Cubs Prediction
Will the Rays upset the Cubs in Chicago this afternoon when the two teams meet at 2:20PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Cubs are -155 money line favorites versus the Rays, who have odds of +145 to pull off the upset in Chicago. With Blake Snell set to face John Lackey in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 9 runs.
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From Rotoworld: Snell was roughed up for six runs in five innings while taking a loss to the Pirates on Wednesday. He was making his first major league start in six weeks after being recalled from the minors on Tuesday. It didn’t go well at all. He struggled with his control, walking five batters and racking up 98 pitches in five frames. He struck out six batters and allowed four base hits, including a solo home run by first baseman Josh Bell. Snell falls to 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts. He has 40 strikeouts and 30 walks in 47 innings.
Lackey was shelled for eight runs in 5 1/3 innings and took a loss to the Nationals on Wednesday. He gave up nine hits and two walks and managed only two strikeouts. He gave up solo home runs to Anthony Rendon, Matt Wieters and Daniel Murphy. He also walked in a run in the Nationals’ four-run second inning. Lackey falls to 5-9 with a 5.24 ERA after 16 starts. The 38-year-old has been markedly less effective this year than he was the last several seasons. His velocity has declined but the biggest culprit has been the longball — he has surrendered 24 dingers already this year. He has given up more than that in a full season just three times in his 16-year career.
Bet Today’s Rays vs. Cubs Game
OUR PREDICTION: The Rays are 6-1 in their last seven games versus the Cubs and are 11-4 in their last 15 interleague games. On the other side, the Cubs are just 1-4 in Lackey’s last five starts, are 2-5 in their last seven games overall, and are 0-5 in their last five games versus teams from the American League East.
WEDNESDAY MLB PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS +145