Washington Nationals vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction MLB Picks 6/28/24

The Washington Nationals and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Friday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:

• The Washington Nationals recent form and player performance

• The Tampa Bay Rays recent form and player performance

• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Washington Nationals

• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Tampa Bay Rays

• Recent betting trends in games played between the Nationals and Rays

• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Nationals vs Rays game

Washington Nationals Betting Preview

The Nationals played the San Diego Padres this week. Washington had zero luck in that set, losing all three games in a sweep 7-6, 9-7 and 8-5. In the Wednesday finale the Nationals got two RBI each from Lane Thomas and Luis Garcia during the defeat.

For the Friday starter gig the Nationals will send out Mitchell Parker. Over his 13 starts this year (the first 13 starts of his career) Parker is 5-3 with a 3.30 ERA and 58 Ks in 73.2 innings.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

Over on the Rays’ side, they took on the Seattle Mariners in their last series. Tampa Bay managed to win the first pair 4-3 and 11-3. Wednesday’s matchup was a loss however, as the Rays fell 5-2. Starter Ryan Pepiot gave up one earned in 5.1 innings along the way.

It’ll be Zach Eflin in the starter slot for the Rays on Friday. This year Eflin is 3-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 14 starts. He has 63 Ks in 81.1 innings total. Eflin is 55-58 with a 4.27 career ERA in his 172 games (160 starts).

Nationals vs Rays Pick Injury Notes

Rays 2B Brandon Lowe (toe) remained out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Rays’ last eight games against NL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Five of the Nationals’ last six games have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last five night games between the Nationals and Rays.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last five night games against AL East opponents.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Jose Siri has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last five night games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded an RBI in each of the Rays’ last four games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Randy Arozarena has scored at least one run in nine of the Rays’ last 10 night games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 11 night games.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in each of the Rays’ last six games against NL opponents at Tropicana Field.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded a Double in three of the Rays’ last four night games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of the Rays’ last 19 games.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• Eddie Rosario has hit a home run in each of the Nationals’ last two games against AL East opponents.
• Lane Thomas has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Nationals’ last seven games.
• CJ Abrams has scored at least one run in nine of the Nationals’ last 10 night games.
• CJ Abrams has recorded at least one hit in each of the Nationals’ last 10 night games.
• Lane Thomas has recorded a Single in each of the Nationals’ last five games against AL opponents.
• Joey Meneses has recorded at least one Double in three of the Nationals’ last four games against AL opponents.
• Lane Thomas has recorded at least one total base in each of the Nationals’ last 11 road games.

Washington Nationals vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

I’ll take a stab on the Nationals. Probably staying away, though. Parker is coming off four earned runs in 6.0 innings during a no-decision at Coors Field. Prior to that he had just one earned in 10.2 innings over two starts. As for Eflin, he’s given up seven earned runs in his last 12.2 innings over two starts.

The Nationals gave up a ton of runs in the San Diego series—24 to be exact—so they’re going to have to sharpen up on the mound. Parker should be able to notch a quality start while he’s out there. It’ll be up to the bats and the pen the rest of the way.