It’s the middle game of a three-game weekend interleague series between foes on the diamond down in the Sunshine State as the Milwaukee Brewers travel to face the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday night and we have you covered with our Brewers vs. Rays prediction. Milwaukee missed a chance to sweep a three-game set with the Astros at home as they were drubbed 9-1 Wednesday afternoon. Tampa Bay was swept at home by Philadelphia as they were dropped 7-6 in 10 innings in the finale Thursday night. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the series at George M. Steinbrenner Field Friday night. Read more about this Brewers vs. Rays prediction! Winning isn’t easy so you need the top MLB cappers.
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Brewers Looking to Close Gap in NL Central
Milwaukee missed a chance to sweep the Astros at home as they were hammered in the finale of their set Wednesday afternoon. The Brewers entered Friday 19-19 on the year and stood tied second in the NL Central, three games behind the Cubs for the top spot. Against Houston Wednesday, Milwaukee was held to just four hits with no player having more than one in the game. Eric Haase (his second) hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to account for the Brewers’ offense in the contest. Quinn Priester (1-1) took the loss as he allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts over five innings of work.
Tobias Myers is expected to get the ball for his fifth appearance, fourth start, for the Brewers in this contest. He is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.541 WHIP, seven walks and eight strikeouts over 12.1 innings of work this season. Myers earned the win in his last start, which came at home against the Astros Monday night. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts in a 5-1 Brewers victory. In his last three appearances, two starts, Myers is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.321 WHIP, three walks and six strikeouts over 8.1 innings of work. Myers, in his 32nd career appearance, and 29th major league start, pitches against the Rays for the first time here. As a result, this marks his first career outing at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Tampa Bay Hoping to Reverse Recent Issues
Tampa Bay was swept by Philadelphia as they fell apart in the late innings Thursday night, suffering their seventh loss in nine games in the process. The Rays entered Friday 16-21 and stood fourth in the AL East, five games behind the Yankees for the top spot. Against Philadelphia, Tampa Bay led 5-1 after seven innings only to fall apart and lose in 10 frames. The Rays rapped out 14 hits in the game with Jonathan Aranda along with Taylor Walls (two runs) leading the way with three each while Danny Jansen (RBI) and Jose Caballero (run) each added two. Yandy Diaz (his sixth) and Junior Caminero (his seventh) went deep in the game. The Rays were just three of 12 with runners in scoring position, had three runners caught stealing and left eight on base in the loss. Ryan Pepiot threw six innings, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Manuel Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with no walks and one strikeout in one inning of relief.
Taj Bradley is on the hill for the Rays as he makes his eighth start of the season in this contest. He is 3-2 with a 4.43 ERA, a 1.328 WHIP, 18 walks and 30 strikeouts over 40.2 innings of work on the year. Bradley picked up the win in his last start, which came against the Yankees on the road Sunday afternoon. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout in a 7-5 Rays victory. In his last three starts, Bradley is 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, a 1.255 WHIP, eight walks and six strikeouts over 18.1 innings of work. Bradley, in his 56th career appearance and 54th major league start, pitches against the Brewers for the first time here. He makes his fifth career start at George M. Steinbrenner Field in this contest. Bradey is 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.356 WHIP, nine walks and 19 strikeouts over 24.1 innings of work in those outings.
Best Bets for Milwaukee Brewers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Tampa Bay has been trending in the wrong direction of late and playing at a spring training site isn’t going to help matters for them. Kevin Cash has to find a way to get his team back on track because Thursday’s meltdown was another blow for an already reeling squad. Milwaukee has been solid enough and if they can get their rotation fully healthy, that would be a major boost for them as the season wears on. The Brewers have a more consistent lineup right now and they are the better team. Look for Myers to keep Milwaukee in it and the Rays’ bullpen to fold late to give the visitors the win.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Milwaukee has seen the under post a 21-15-2 mark in their 38 games in relation to the total this season entering Friday night. The Brewers are 11th in the majors in runs per game with 4.61 and that number climbs to 5.26 runs per game on the road. Milwaukee has seen an average total of 9.14 runs per game this season and that number rockets to 10.42 runs per game on the road on the year. Tampa Bay has seen the under post a 20-15-2 mark on the season entering Friday. The Rays are 22nd with 3.81 runs per game, a number that climbs to 3.92 runs per game at home. Tampa Bay allows 3.90 runs per game, giving them an average total of 7.86 runs per game. That number climbs to 8.20 runs per game at home on the year. With the way Milwaukee has fared on the road and the Rays’ bullpen sputtering, take the over here.
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