Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/16/2024

Game Time: 1:35 pm ET, Sunday, June 16, 2024

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch:  BSSUN

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Braves -120; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Braves -120; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Braves -120; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  33-37 (5th place, AL East)

Atlanta Braves:  37-30 (2nd place, NL East)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  4-6 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  4-6 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 33-37 record overall and have a road record of 14-14. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Braves on Sunday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Saturday. The Rays lost the series opener of this series on Friday. Their offense ranks 28th in the MLB with a .656 OPS. Ryan Pepiot is their starting pitcher on Saturday while Zach Eflin is making his start in this game on Sunday. He is 3-4 with a 4.06 ERA this season. His team won their last 5 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 1 HR, and 0 BB with 3 Ks on 7 hits through 5.2 IP against the Chicago Cubs.

The Braves are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 37-30 record overall and have a home record of 20-12. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Sunday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Saturday. The Braves won the 1st game of this series on Friday. Their offense ranks 13th in the MLB with a .709 OPS. Charlie Morton is their starting pitcher on Saturday while rookie pitcher Hurston Waldrep is making his start in this game on Sunday. He is 0-1 with a 17.18 ERA this season. His team lost their only game this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 7 earned runs, 1 homer, and 4 BB with 1 strikeout on 4 hits through 3.2 innings played against the Washington Nationals.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Braves have looked good in their games this season with their 37-30 record overall, but that record only has them in 2nd place of the NL East and they have a mountain to climb to try and catch the Philadelphia Phillies in 1st place. They have looked a lot better in their home games though with their 20-12 home record. Meanwhile, the Rays haven't looked good in their games this season with their 33-37 record overall and after being at the top of the AL East over the last few years, they are finally taking a turn as they are at the bottom of the AL East. As bad as they have been lately, they do have a favorable pitching matchup in this game and that is going to help them pick up a win here. The Braves are going with their rookie Waldrep in this game and he has only made 1 start this season, but he was terrible in that game. He gave up 7 earned runs in a little under 4 innings and that was against the Nationals who aren't even a good team with a good offense. The Rays are going with Eflin in this game and he hasn't been great this season either, but he has been better in his starts lately. He is 3-4 with a 4.06 ERA this year, but he only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start and the team has won 5 games in a row with him starting too. The Rays have been struggling on offense but the Braves have also been struggling with their pitching this season and this is a matchup that the Rays can take advantage of with this rookie starting. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Rays Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Sunday, June 16, 2024 (1:35 pm ET start time) is Rays 5 Braves 2.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 33-37 (-12 units) on the moneyline in all games. 95-97 (-16.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 45-69 (-16.8 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 8-3 UNDER as a road underdog of +100 to +150. 28-19 UNDER on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5. ZACH EFLIN is 10-5 UNDER in an inter-league game.

Atlanta Braves: 244-155 (+8.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 221-117 (+22 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 129-69 (+9.6 units) on the moneyline in home games. 9-4 UNDER when the money line is +125 to -125. 18-4 UNDER in an inter-league game. 30-11 UNDER against right-handed starters.

Tampa Bay Rays:  J. Caballero (2B) Ques Sat - Illness. R. Lovelady (RP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. J. Waguespack (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. W. Franco (SS) Out indefinitely - Poss. Suspension. J. Springs (RP) Early Aug - Elbow. D. Rasmussen (RP) Mid Aug - Elbow. S. McClanahan (SP) out for season - Elbow.

Atlanta Braves:  M. Harris II (LF) Ques Sat - Hamstring. R. Acuna Jr. (RF) out for season - Lower Body. J. Herget (SP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. S. Strider (SP) out for season - Elbow. A. Smith-Shawver (RP) Out indefinitely - Oblique. A. Minter (RP) Out indefinitely - Hip. T. Matzek (RP) Out indefinitely - Elbow.

“Just didn't execute. Just a bad night. Threw pitches in bad spots. Kind of went away from what I was doing well.” - Zack Littell after their loss against the Braves in their game on Friday.

“Getting Austin involved is huge for us.” - Brian Snitker on Austin Riley after his team’s win against the Rays in their game on Friday.

Yandy Díaz (R) 1B

Randy Arozarena (R) LF

Amed Rosario (R) 3B

Isaac Paredes (R) DH

Jose Siri (R) CF

Jonny DeLuca (R) RF

Taylor Walls (S) SS

José Caballero (R) 2B

Alex Jackson (R) C

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

Marcell Ozuna (R) DH

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Sean Murphy (R) C

Adam Duvall (R) RF

Jarred Kelenic (L) LF

Orlando Arcia (R) SS

Batting Average:  Amed Rosario (.294)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (71)

Home Runs:  Isaac Paredes (10)

RBI:  Isaac Paredes (38)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (22)

Wins:  Garrett Cleavinger (4)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (9)

ERA:  Edwin Uceta (0.00)

Batting Average:  Marcell Ozuna (.321)

Hits:  Marcell Ozuna (80)

Home Runs:  Marcell Ozuna (19)

RBI:  Marcell Ozuna (60)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuña (16)

Wins:  Chris Sale (9)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (18)

ERA:  AJ Smith-Shawver (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (10th season)

Atlanta Braves: Brian Snitker (9th season)