The Tampa Bay Rays had to wrap up their weekend series with the Boston Red Sox yesterday and now they don't have a day off before getting right into this three-game series with the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins. While both teams are division leaders the Rays are in a class of their own with the best record in baseball.
The Twins will try to hang with the American League's upper class in Game 1 with rookie Louie Varland on the mound. Varland is 3-1 in seven starts this year, has a 3.51 ERA, and will be opposed by Zach Eflin. Eflin was the Rays big offseason signing and he is paying dividends with a 7-1 record and a 3.30 ERA.
Let's take a look at the odds for Game 1 at the Trop.
Twins vs. Rays odds, run line and total
Twins vs. Rays prediction and pick
The Rays were the best offensive team in baseball to start the season, but they have gone cold as of late. In the past week they are 19th in runs scored and have an OPS of .635. They have sustained a few injuries including Wander Franco who missed the game Sunday against the Red Sox, but is not on the IL. However, it's been regression more than injury that accounts for their recent struggles. Last week, Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe led the team in at-bats and had respective OPSs of .500, .443, and .554 and they had just two home runs over that stretch, one from Lowe and another from Jose Siri.
For the entire month of May, Brandon Lowe had a .545 OPS and no player on the team had an OPS over 1.000 and only one player hit seven or more home runs. That was after April when three players accomplished the former and four players the latter.
The lineup might not be the same for Tampa Bay, but the pitching staff is still stellar and that includes Eflin. He is turning into a real workhorse for the team and I expect a quality start out of him again. It's a low total, but with the way the Rays are swinging it I like the under.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
