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MLB 5/18 Preview: Rays Vs. Mets

<div class="game_preview_section sport_mlb" data-sr_id="38064157" data-sd_id="68838">
<div>
<h2>Rays @ Mets &#8211; First Pitch: 1:10 p.m.</h2>
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<div>Expected Forecast: Few Clouds, 60°</div>
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<div> </div>
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<p>The <strong>Tampa Bay Rays</strong> lock horns with the <strong>New York Mets</strong> at Citi Field in the three-game series rubber match. Surprisingly, it&#8217;s close to a pick &#8217;em today, with the Mets and <strong>-100</strong> and Tampa at <strong>-119</strong>.  As the Mets hold the home-field advantage, the <strong>total</strong> is set at <strong>9.5</strong>.</p>
<p>The Rays&#8217; <strong>Taj</strong> <strong>Bradley</strong> has had a spectacular short run, despite not having many innings under his belt. His <strong>3.37 xFIP</strong> and close to <strong>38% K rate</strong> show his potential on the mound. What&#8217;s more, his splits against <strong>lefties</strong> – a <strong>.173 weighted on-base percentage</strong> and <strong>ISO </strong>of <strong>zero</strong> – are sensational. Even right-handed batters have a relatively modest <strong>.281 weighted on-base percentage</strong> against him, although the ISO power number is slightly higher.</p>
<p>Bradley&#8217;s strength is the Mets&#8217; weakness: their lineup is expected to be filled with left-handed batters. Attacking the Rays&#8217; rookie with a lefty-heavy lineup may not be the best strategy.</p>
<p>On the other side, the Mets&#8217; <strong>Tyler Megill</strong> hasn&#8217;t had the best <strong>30 days</strong>. His <strong>xFIP is over six</strong>, his strikeouts are low, and his walks are high. Megill, a right-handed pitcher, has a staggering <strong>.469 weighted on-base percentage</strong> and <strong>ISO of .268</strong> against the 50 <strong>right-handed batters</strong> he has faced.</p>
<p>Despite an unfortunate loss in their last game, the Rays still offer <strong>great value</strong>, especially with Bradley on the mound. Tampa, the<strong> highest-scoring team</strong> in Major League Baseball, should capitalize on their offensive prowess against a struggling Megill. Today, the better pitcher, the better lineup, and the better team are all on <strong>Tampa Bay&#8217;s side</strong>.</p>
<p>Even almost 45 games into the season, the Rays have still scored the most runs and <strong>allowed the fewest</strong> in MLB. Their performance is undeniably impressive, making them a compelling choice for today&#8217;s game.</p>
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<div class="game_preview_section sport_mlb" data-sr_id="38064157" data-sd_id="68838">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Spread, Total, Moneyline, and Odds:</h2>
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<div>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th width="150px"> </th>
<th colspan="2" width="100px">Spread</th>
<th colspan="2" width="100px">Total</th>
<th width="100px">Moneyline</th>
<th width="100px"> </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"> Rays</td>
<td rowspan="2" align="right">-1.5 </td>
<td align="right">+156 </td>
<td align="right">O 8.5 </td>
<td align="right">-115 </td>
<td align="center">-106</td>
<td> Open</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">+138 </td>
<td align="right">9.5 </td>
<td align="right">-110 </td>
<td align="center">-119</td>
<td> Current</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"> Mets</td>
<td rowspan="2" align="right">+1.5 </td>
<td align="right"> -185 </td>
<td align="right">U 8.5 </td>
<td align="right">-105 </td>
<td align="center">-113</td>
<td> Open</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right"> -165 </td>
<td align="right">9.5 </td>
<td align="right"> -110 </td>
<td align="center">-100</td>
<td> Current</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Projected Lineups:</h2>
<h3>Rays</h3>
<p><b>Starting Pitcher:</b> Taj Bradley: 3-0, 3.52 ERA, 13.50 K/9</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">1.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">RF</td>
<td width="200px"> Josh Lowe</td>
<td width="180px">  .300, 9 HR, 29 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">2.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">LF</td>
<td width="200px"> Randy Arozarena</td>
<td width="180px">  .310, 10 HR, 36 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">3.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">DH</td>
<td width="200px"> Harold Ramírez</td>
<td width="180px">  .330, 6 HR, 18 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">4.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">2B</td>
<td width="200px"> Brandon Lowe</td>
<td width="180px">  .208, 8 HR, 24 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">5.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">3B</td>
<td width="200px"> Isaac Paredes</td>
<td width="180px">  .293, 6 HR, 29 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">6.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">SS</td>
<td width="200px"> Taylor Walls</td>
<td width="180px">  .277, 7 HR, 18 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">7.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">1B</td>
<td width="200px"> Luke Raley</td>
<td width="180px">  .258, 8 HR, 17 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">8.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">C</td>
<td width="200px"> Christian Bethancourt</td>
<td width="180px">  .228, 6 HR, 14 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">9.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">CF</td>
<td width="200px"> Manuel Margot</td>
<td width="180px">  .242, 2 HR, 10 RBI</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Mets</h3>
<p><b>Starting Pitcher:</b> Tylor Megill: 4-2, 4.02 ERA, 6.92 K/9</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">1.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">CF</td>
<td width="200px"> Brandon Nimmo</td>
<td width="180px">  .299, 3 HR, 18 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">2.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">SS</td>
<td width="200px"> Francisco Lindor</td>
<td width="180px">  .229, 6 HR, 31 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">3.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">2B</td>
<td width="200px"> Jeff McNeil</td>
<td width="180px">  .277, 2 HR, 14 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">4.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">1B</td>
<td width="200px"> Pete Alonso</td>
<td width="180px">  .232, 15 HR, 36 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">5.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">3B</td>
<td width="200px"> Brett Baty</td>
<td width="180px">  .241, 3 HR, 8 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">6.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">RF</td>
<td width="200px"> Starling Marte</td>
<td width="180px">  .238, 1 HR, 10 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">7.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">DH</td>
<td width="200px"> Daniel Vogelbach</td>
<td width="180px">  .247, 2 HR, 13 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">8.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">LF</td>
<td width="200px"> Mark Canha</td>
<td width="180px">  .227, 3 HR, 12 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">9.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">C</td>
<td width="200px"> Francisco Alvarez</td>
<td width="180px">  .218, 4 HR, 9 RBI</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Betting Insights:</h2>
</div>
<h3>Rays</h3>
<ul>
<li>The over hit in 5 of the Tampa Bay Rays last 5 games on the road in 2023</li>
<li>The Tampa Bay Rays are 11-6 (.647) on the road as a favorite in 2023</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mets</h3>
<ul>
<li>The over hit in 3 of the New York Mets last 5 games at home in 2023</li>
</ul>
</div>


Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Mets Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview

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The Tampa Bay Rays lock horns with the New York Mets at Citi Field in the three-game series rubber match.

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