Most MLB fans expected the Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks to have solid seasons. The two franchises are meeting those expectations and then some. Both the Rays and Diamondbacks are in first place in their respective divisions… and those are two of the toughest divisions in baseball. They’ll meet on Tuesday night for the first game of a three game set in Arizona. Let’s take a look at the best Rays-Diamondbacks MLB bet and odds for the series opener.
Readers looking for all the best MLB bets, picks and predictions throughout the season should check out OddsShopper’s articles and market-based models, including our Parlay Builder!
Best MLB Rays-Diamondbacks Betting Pick & Prediction: Wander Franco
Rays-Diamondbacks Odds
Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook
Rays: +110 | Diamondbacks: -130
Over 8.5: -105 | Under 8.5: -115
The Arizona Diamondbacks have made the biggest turnaround in the majors. At 47-32 they sit in first place in the NL West, with a win total that is over halfway to their overall total a year ago. While the organization has made several moves and called up rookie phenom Corbin Carroll, the Diamondbacks’ biggest star is mainstay Zac Gallen. The 27-year old ace is picking up right where he left off a year ago. His 2.84 ERA and 1.09 WHIP has him out in front for the Cy Young Award. And despite having a 4.2 K/BB ratio in 2022, Gallen is blowing away that number to the tune of 104 Ks and 20 BBs in 98.1 IP so far this year.
Tampa has an outstanding offense, but it will be tough to score on Gallen. They are led by Wander Franco, who recently returned from a team imposed suspension due to attitude problems. When Franco is in the lineup he changes the ball game. The 22-year old is already in his third season in the majors, and it has been his best one yet. Franco has nine home runs which has already eclipsed his career high. His .287 batting average is ahead of his career best, as well. It will be difficult to score on Zac Gallen, but if the Rays do get over their 4.2 implied run total there’s a good chance the scoring goes through Franco.
BetMGM is leaving a little too much edge hanging on Wander Franco’s MLB props. You can pick up Franco to record an RBI for +240 at BetMGM which has a sound 6% positive expected value. The true odds should be +220 for this bet that wins about 31% of the time. It’s worth staking just under 1% of your bank roll using the Kelly Criterion staking principles.
If you’re looking for more of the best MLB bets, picks and predictions this season, check out OddsShopper’s articles and market-based models, including our Parlay Builder!
Best Rays-Diamondbacks MLB Pick: Wander Franco Over 0.5 RBI (+240) at BetMGM
