Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays Analysis & Pick

The Philadelphia Phillies (21-15) and Tampa Bay Rays (16-20) will finish out their three-game series on Thursday, May 8 at 7:05 PM ET at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The Phillies are favored to win once again, with MyBookie showing a moneyline at -145.

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview

The Phillies are currently on a two-game win streak and have won four out of their last five. They are coming off a Game 2 performance against the Rays with a 7-0 shutout. Prior to that, they won 8-4. Naturally, the Philadelphia team seems to be unstoppable.

Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 12 home runs and is tied for fifth in the league. He also boasts the most RBIs on the team with 28. Trea Turner leads with a .307 batting average and a .394 slugging percentage, showcasing the Phillies’ strength.

Philadelphia will start Jesus Luzardo (3-0) on the mound, who has an ERA at 1.94 and a WHIP at 1.18. These are excellent numbers through 41.2 innings pitched, which bodes well for the Phillies defense for a good start.

The Phillies have a .258 batting average and are allowing their opponents to reach .250. While these margins are close, it has not made much of difference for the Phillies who have taken advantage of offensive outbursts when needed, reinforcing enthusiasm for the Philadelphia team.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Rays are at risk of getting swept this series and it is looking like they do not have an answer on the defensive end. They have allowed more runs in the last two games than they did in their three-game series against the New York Yankees, highlighting the Philadelphia Phillies’ prowess.

Junior Caminero leads with six home runs and Yandy Diaz leads with 17 RBIs. Jonathan Aranda is their face for batters at the plate, averaging .317. Together they will all need breakout performances to help the offense against strong opponents like the Phillies.

Tampa Bay will put Ryan Pepiot (2-3) on the mound to start, which makes it more difficult to get the defense in line. Pepiot currently averages an ERA at 4.23 and a WHIP at 1.41, which is still bothersome to watch.

The Rays put up .243 at the plate and are allowing opponents to average .236. This margin of error is slightly positive and they are going to need every edge they can take. The first few innings are going to paint a pitcher as to how they are going to turn this into a competitive game against Philadelphia.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie gives you the most appealing Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays betting odds, as the Phillies are favored to succeed. Looking at market insights, the Phillies have a 53.9 percent chance of winning outright.

The Phillies cannot be stopped here and they will likely have another great performance. After putting up 15 points over their last two battles, it makes it look like they could run away with it again. Look for the Philadelphia Phillies to find success and cause a sweep. 

Final Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -145