The Tampa Bay Rays (72-50) and San Francisco Giants (64-56) meet Wednesday for the finale of a 3-game series. First pitch from Oracle Park is set for 3:45 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Giants odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: tied 1-1
San Francisco won 7-0 as a -112 home favorite Tuesday. The game was tied at 0 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, but then the Giants came alive. San Francisco plated 3 runs in the 6th inning and 2 runs in each of the 7th and 8th innings to complete the shutout.
The Giants have won 2 of their last 3 games but are just 3-7 in their last 10 overall. San Francisco is 35-27 at home on the year. Tampa Bay is 5-5 in their last 10 overall and 32-28 on the road this season.
Rays at Giants projected starters
RHP Aaron Civale vs. RHP Ryan Walker
Civale (5-3, 2.61 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 6.7 K/9 through 86 1/3 IP for the Rays and Cleveland Guardians.
- Last outing: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K in a 9-8 home win Friday vs. Cleveland Guardians
- Career vs. San Francisco: 0-1, 6.75 ERA (4 IP, 3 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K through 1 start in 2022
Walker (4-1, 2.28 ERA) makes his 10th start and 32nd appearance. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 10 K/9 through 43 1/3 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K in a 10-2 home loss Monday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Career vs. Tampa Bay: 0-0, 0.00 ERA (2 IP, 0 ER), 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 1 relief appearance on Monday
Rays at Giants odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:54 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Giants -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+145) | Giants +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Rays at Giants picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 3, Giants 2
Moneyline
LEAN RAYS (-115).
The Giants and Rays are evenly matched, but I am taking Tampa Bay because of a few small advantages. The Giants are starting a rookie in Walker who has seen roles primarily as a relief pitcher, leading me to believe he will not pitch many innings vs. Tampa. Tampa has also only lost 1 of its last 6 series’ and should win another Wednesday.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
I am confident the Giants +1.5 (-175) will cover here but at the line is not worth the juice. Bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 8.5 (-105).
The Under is 4-2 in San Francisco’s last 6 games and is 3-1 in Civale’s last 4 starts overall. The Under is also 6-3-1 in the last 10 San Francisco-Tampa Bay matchups overall, although that series dates to 2013.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup