At Tropicana Field on Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays (52-51) begin a three-Game series against the Cincinnati Reds (49-53), at 6:50 PM ET.
A projected close matchup pits the Rays (-112 on the moneyline) against the Reds (-107). The matchup on the mound for this contest is set with the Tampa Bay Rays looking to Shane Baz (0-1), and Nick Lodolo (8-3) answering the bell for the Cincinnati Reds.
The Rays won 13-0 over the Blue Jays yesterday in their most recent Game. Brandon Lowe went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI to lead them offensively while Taj Bradley was earned the victory after throwing six innings without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out seven.
Friday, the Reds defeated the Braves 9-4. Sam Moll was the winning pitcher after he went 2/3 of an inning without giving up a hit or an earned run while striking out two. Spencer Steer led the Reds’ offense, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI.
Here’s everything you need to get ready for Friday’s Rays vs. Reds contest, including viewing options.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cincinnati Reds odds and betting lines
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Friday at 3:16 PM ET. For a full list of Sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Favorite: Rays (-112, bet $112 to win $100)
- Underdog: Reds (-107, bet $107 to win $100)
- Over/under: 7.5
Rays vs. Reds: Live streaming info & game time
- Game Day: Friday, July 26, 2024
- Game Time: 6:50 PM ET
- Stadium: Tropicana Field
- TV Channel: Bally Sports
- Live Stream: Fubo (Watch for free)
Rays stats and trends
Rays betting records
- The Rays have entered the game as favorites 53 times this season and won 27, or 50.9%, of those games.
- Tampa Bay has a record of 26-22, a 54.2% win rate, when favored by -112 or more by oddsmakers this season.
- The implied probability of a win from the Rays, based on the moneyline, is 52.8%.
- Tampa Bay and its opponents have hit the over in 51 of its 103 games with a total this season.
- The Rays are 53-49-0 against the spread this season.
Shane Baz (Rays probable starter)
- The Rays are sending Baz (0-1) to the mound to make his fourth start of the season. He is 0-1 with a 3.95 ERA and 12 strikeouts through 13 2/3 innings pitched.
- The right-hander’s most recent appearance came on Sunday against the New York Yankees, when he tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing four hits.
- In three games this season, the 25-year-old has a 3.95 ERA and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .304 to opposing batters.
- He will face a Reds offense that ranks 14th in the league with 456 runs while batting .231 as a squad. It has a collective .397 slugging percentage (17th in MLB play) and has hit a total of 114 home runs (13th in MLB).
Rays batting stats
- The Rays’ 98 home runs rank 26th in MLB this season.
- Hitters for Tampa Bay have combined for a team rank of 25th in the majors with a .374 team slugging percentage.
- The Rays’ .235 batting average ranks 21st in the league this season.
- Tampa Bay ranks 25th in the majors with 413 total runs scored this season.
- The Rays have the 15th-ranked on-base percentage in MLB this season (.311).
- Tampa Bay is one of the least-disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking 26th with an average of 9.0 strikeouts per game.
Reds stats and trends
Reds betting records
- The Reds have been underdogs in 54 games this season and have come away with the win 23 times (42.6%) in those contests.
- This season, Cincinnati has come away with a win 23 times in 53 chances when named as an underdog of at least -107 or longer on the moneyline.
- The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Reds have a 51.7% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
- Cincinnati and its opponents have hit the over in 46 of its 102 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
- The Reds are 56-45-0 against the spread in their 101 games that had a posted line this season.
Nick Lodolo (Reds probable starter)
- Lodolo gets the start for the Reds, his 16th of the season. He is 8-3 with a 3.51 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings pitched.
- The left-hander’s most recent appearance was on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, when he threw 6 1/3 innings, surrendering four earned runs while giving up six hits.
- In 15 games this season, the 26-year-old has amassed a 3.51 ERA and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .220 to opposing batters.
- Lodolo has collected six quality starts this year.
- Lodolo has pitched five or more innings in a game 12 times this year entering this game.
- He has had one appearances this season in which he did not give up an earned run.
- He will take the hill against a Rays offense that ranks 22nd in the league with 806 total hits (on a .235 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .374 (25th in the league) with 98 total home runs (26th in MLB play).
Reds batting stats
- The Reds average 1.1 home runs per game to rank 13th in MLB action with 114 total home runs.
- This season, Cincinnati ranks 17th in baseball with a .397 slugging percentage.
- The Reds are 28th in the majors with a .231 batting average.
- The offense for Cincinnati is the No. 14 offense in baseball, scoring 4.5 runs per game (456 total runs).
- The Reds rank 21st in MLB with an on-base percentage of .305.