At Tropicana Field on Friday, the New York Mets (16-15) begin a three-game series versus the Tampa Bay Rays (14-18), at 6:50 PM ET.
The favored Rays (-150 moneyline odds) host the Mets (+126). The scheduled starters are Aaron Civale (2-2) for the Tampa Bay Rays, and Jose Quintana (1-2) for the New York Mets.
The Rays lost 7-1 against the Brewers Friday, with Zach Eflin getting credited with the loss. He threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out six. Richard Palacios went 2-for-3 to lead the Rays offensively.
The Mets beat the Cubs 7-6 yesterday, with Danny Young registering the win while pitching one inning without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out one. Francisco Lindor went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI to lead the Mets’ offense.
Before the Rays vs. Mets matchup, here is what you need to get ready for Friday’s baseball action, including viewing options.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Mets 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 (-150, bet $150 to win $100)
- Underdog: Mets (+126, bet $100 to win $126)
- Over/under: 8
Rays vs. Mets: Live streaming info & game time
- Game Day: Friday, May 3, 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 24 times this season and won 10, or 41.7%, of those games.
- Tampa Bay has a record of 2-5 when favored by -150 or more by sportsbooks this season.
- The moneyline for this contest implies a 60% chance of a victory for the Rays.
- Tampa Bay and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 18 of 32 opportunities.
- In 31 games with a spread this season, the Rays are 13-18-0 ATS.
Aaron Civale (Rays probable starter)
- Civale (2-2 with a 5.06 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings pitched) gets the start for the Rays, his seventh of the season.
- In his most recent appearance on Saturday, the right-hander threw 4 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox, allowing six earned runs while surrendering eight hits.
- The 28-year-old has amassed a 5.06 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings across six games this season, while giving up a batting average of .256 to his opponents.
- Civale has three quality starts under his belt this year.
- Civale will try to pick up his fifth game of five or more innings pitched this season. He’s averaging 5.3 innings per appearance.
- He has allowed at least one earned run in each of his appearances.
- The opposing Mets offense has the 18th-ranked slugging percentage (.370) and ranks 13th in MLB play with 32 home runs. It has a collective .237 batting average, and is 16th in MLB with 250 total hits and 17th in MLB action scoring 135 runs.
- The 28-year-old’s 5.06 ERA ranks 72nd, 1.313 WHIP ranks 63rd, and 9.6 K/9 ranks 30th among qualifying pitchers this season.
Rays batting stats
- The Rays rank 25th in Major League Baseball with 26 home runs.
- Fueled by 68 extra-base hits, Tampa Bay ranks 25th in MLB with a .352 slugging percentage this season.
- The Rays’ .238 batting average ranks 14th in the league this season.
- Tampa Bay ranks 21st in the majors with 120 total runs scored this season.
- The Rays have an on-base percentage of .301 this season, which ranks 23rd in the league.
- Tampa Bay ranks 24th with an average of 9.1 strikeouts per game.
Mets stats and trends
Mets betting records
- The Mets have come away with five wins in the 12 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
- This season, New York has been victorious four times in six chances when named as an underdog of at least +126 or worse on the moneyline.
- Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Mets have a 44.2% chance of pulling out a win.
- Contests with New York has gone over the total set by sportsbooks in 15 of 31 chances this season.
- In 30 games with a line this season, the Mets have a mark of 16-14-0 against the spread.
José Quintana (Mets probable starter)
- Quintana (1-2) takes the mound first for the Mets in his seventh start of the season. He has a 3.48 ERA in 33 2/3 innings pitched, with 23 strikeouts.
- The left-hander last appeared on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he tossed eight innings, allowing one earned run while giving up three hits.
- The 35-year-old has put up an ERA of 3.48, with 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings in six games this season. Opponents are hitting .236 against him.
- Quintana is looking to pick up his second quality start of the year.
- Quintana will aim to last five or more innings for his sixth straight start. He’s averaging 5.5 frames per outing.
- He has not had an appearance so far in 2024 where he did not give up at least one earned run.
- He will match up with a Rays offense that ranks 13th in the league with 256 total hits (on a .238 batting average). The team also slugs a collective .352 (25th in the league) with 26 total home runs (25th in MLB play).
- Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 35-year-old’s 3.48 ERA ranks 47th, 1.337 WHIP ranks 65th, and 6.1 K/9 ranks 79th.
Mets batting stats
- The Mets are 13th in MLB play with 32 home runs. They average one per game.
- So far this year, New York is 18th in the majors with a .370 slugging percentage.
- The Mets rank 18th in the majors with a .237 batting average.
- Averaging 4.4 runs per game (135 total), New York is the 17th-highest scoring team in the majors.
- The Mets rank 14th in MLB with an on-base percentage of .314.
