Playoff Implications in Dodgers and Rays Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays meet on Tuesday night in a game that will be streamed for free on YouTube. The Dodgers have already won the National League West, but they still have something to chase down. Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is at stake as they take on the Rays in a two game interleague series.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, YouTube; LINE: Dodgers -133; O/U: 8 Under -108
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (6-7, 4.28 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (4-4, 3.40)
The Rays have even more motivation to win Tuesday’s matchup. They certainly won’t catch the New York Yankees in the American League East. They do have the edge on the Cleveland Indians for the second AL Wild Card berth.
The Rays lead Cleveland by 1-1/2 games for the final playoff berth and trail first-place Oakland by 1-game entering Tuesday action. They are 3-3 on their eight-game road trip.
Los Angeles has already wrapped up its seventh straight National League West title. They are one game behind Houston and the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball. The Dodgers’ starting rotation suffers a big drop off after NL Cy Young candidates Hyun-Jim Ryu, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Ross Stripling, who is going tonight, is trying to solidify the No. 4 spot.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
Blake Snell hasn’t quite matched his Cy Young-winning performance from last year, but he’s played better than his ERA would suggest. The young southpaw has a team record of 11-9 (Under 9-8-3). Snell makes his first start since July 21st. The reigning American League Cy Young winner underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. He hopes to help Tampa Bay earn a wild card spot.
The Rays‘ Snell started to resemble the pitcher that went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA last season in his last four starts before surgery. He allowed four runs over 22 innings during that span to lower an ERA that soared to 5.01 early in the season. Snell will be available for up to three innings Tuesday. Since the game will be played under NL rules, he may not get an at-bat.
Stripling received a no-decision in his last start for the Dodgers. He allowed one run and three hits, over three innings of Los Angeles’ 7-3 loss at Baltimore on Wednesday. Stripling is 2-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 14 starts this season. His stats are comparable when pitching in relief, as he has tallied a 2-1 record and a 3.57 ERA. He is allowing less than one hit per inning in each role. Stripling has pitched four scoreless innings in two relief outings against Tampa Bay.
The Dart Throw: Dodgers 4, Rays 2
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Rays vs Dodgers Betting Odds Trends
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
|---|
| LA Dodgers is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers’s last 8 games |
| LA Dodgers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home |
| LA Dodgers is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 12 of LA Dodgers’s last 18 games at home |
| LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay |
| LA Dodgers is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Tampa Bay |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers’s last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay |
| LA Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
|---|
| Tampa Bay is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games |
| Tampa Bay is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games |
| Tampa Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games on the road |
| The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay’s last 10 games on the road |
| Tampa Bay is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers |
| Tampa Bay is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing LA Dodgers |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 7 games when playing LA Dodgers |
| Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers |
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