The Detroit Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Friday in MLB action from Steinbrenner Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Detroit Tigers will send out Jack Flaherty for the start here and Flaherty is 5-7 with a 4.03 ERA and 90 strikeouts this season. In his career, Flaherty is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts against the Rays. Shane Baz will get the start for the Rays here and is 6-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 71 strikeouts this season. This will be Baz’s first career start against the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers Recap

The Detroit Tigers come into this game looking to rebound after having to settle for a double-header split with the Pirates on Thursday, winning game one 9-2 before falling 8-4 in game two to leave at 48-28 on the year. After this series, the Tigers will head home for a series against the Athletics.

Tigers Looking To Pick Up Play On The Road

Spencer Torkelson has 58 hits along with a .227 batting average including a team-high 16 home runs, 16 doubles and 48 RBIs. Kerry Carpenter also has 13 home runs and 27 RBIs while Riley Greene has 80 hits with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 55 RBIs but also has a team-high 96 strikeouts as well this season. Dillon Dingler has 7 home runs and 29 RBIs and Zack McKinstry’s added 10 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs and 20 RBIs of his own along with 62 hits as well this season. Javier Baez has added 63 hits and 12 doubles as well as 9 home runs and 35 RBIs this season.

Why the Detroit Tigers will win

The Tigers have won each of their last eight games as road underdogs against American League opponents following a home loss.
The Rays have lost five of their last seven games as favorites against the Tigers following a home loss.
The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last nine games as road underdogs against American League opponents following a home loss.
The Rays have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six night games against AL Central opponents.

Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts

Jack Flaherty has recorded eight or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
Javier Baez has hit at least one home run in each of his last two appearances in night games.
Javier Baez has scored at least one run in five of his last six appearances.
Jack Flaherty has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances.
Riley Greene has recorded a Double in three of the Tigers’ last four games as underdogs against AL opponents.
Riley Greene has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Tigers’ last three games against opponents that held a winning record.
Parker Meadows has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.

Tampa Bay Rays Recap

The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles in Thursday’s series finale to sit at 41-34 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a series against the Kansas City Royals.

Rays Settle For Split Vs. Baltimore

Jonathan Aranda has 76 hits with a team-high 14 doubles, 8 home runs and 41 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 71 hits with 15 homers and 41 RBIs as well while Junior Caminero has 72 hits with 16 doubles, a team-high 17 home runs and 48 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 76 hits with 14 doubles, 10 homers and 42 RBIs and Kameron Misner has 40 hits with 9 doubles, 5 homers and 20 RBIs as well while Christopher Morel has 58 strikeouts while Lowe has 71 strikeouts and Misner has 67 K’s as well this season. Jose Caballero has 28 stolen bases while Taylor Walls has 8 stolen bases as well this season.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

The Rays have won each of their last six games following a home loss.
The Tigers have lost each of their last four road games against the Rays following a loss.
The Rays have covered the run line each of their last eight games against teams that held a winning record.
The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

Danny Jansen has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances in night games against AL Central teams that held a winning record.
Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 16 home games against AL opponents.
Taylor Walls has scored at least one run in each of his last six appearances after playing the previous day.
Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Rays’ last six games as favorites.
Jonathan Aranda ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.329) this season.

Total Runs Facts

Each of the Tigers’ last six games have gone OVER the total runs line.
Five of the Rays’ last six night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

I’m on the Rays here. I get the case to be made for the Tigers who still have one of the best records in baseball, but Jack Flaherty hasn’t been the high ranking option that the Tigers hoped he would be in the pecking order of this rotation as the Tigers haven’t necessarily won a ton of his starts this season. The Rays couldn’t win the series vs. Baltimore, but Tampa Bay is playing some really great baseball right now and I think they draw first blood in this series. Give me the Rays here.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Tampa Bay -110