Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions September 24th 2024

From Comerica Park in Detroit, we have the Rays and Tigers facing off in an AL matchup. The Tigers are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -181, while the Rays are at +152. Today’s over/under line is at 6.5 runs, and the forecasted temperature is 62 degrees with light rain.

First pitch for this one is set for 1:10 PM ET, and the Tigers will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak. They are 82-74 and are 3rd in the AL Central. Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays, who are 78-78 and 4th in the AL East. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal.

Tampa Bay vs. Detroit Key Information

Ryan Pepiot gets the start for the Rays today as he faces off against the Tigers on the road. So far this season, he has made 24 starts and has a record of 8-6 with a 3.65 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Pepiot has a WHIP of 1.13 and opponents are batting .207 this season. In his 24 starts, he has turned in nine quality starts and is averaging 9.74 strikeouts per nine innings. The right-hander’s last outing came on September 18th, where he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up one earned run on 12 strikeouts. He has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his last four outings.

For the season, the Rays are averaging just 3.8 runs per game, which is 29th in the league. They have been a little better at home, but their home and road scoring averages are both 26th and 27th, respectively. As a team, they are batting just .231 and have the 21st ranked home run total in the league.

Yandy Diaz has been a bright spot for the Rays this season, as he is batting .284 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs. Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz are both on four-game hitting streaks heading into today’s game. Aranda has three homers in his last seven games and is hitting .320 over that stretch.

Tarik Skubal gets the start for the Tigers today vs. the Rays and is coming off a strong outing vs. the Royals. In that September 18th start, he went five innings, picking up the win and giving up just one earned run. Looking back at his last four outings, Skubal has finished with a no-decision in three straight starts. Skubal’s ERA for the season is 2.48, along with a record of 17-4. Opposing batters have hit .204 off Skubal this season. He has made 30 starts, and opponents have hit just 15 homers off him this year.

Heading into today’s game, the Tigers are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 18th in the league. This season, they are batting a collective .234, which is also 18th in the MLB. Detroit’s team on-base percentage of .299 is one of the worst marks in the league. The Tigers have been led by Riley Greene, who has 24 homers and 72 RBIs this season while batting .262.

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Kerry Carpenter has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 6/19 in his last eight games with three homers. This has pushed his season average to a team-leading .290. Carpenter is also 2nd on the team with 17 homers. He will be looking to extend his three-game hitting streak today.

Even though we have this Tigers vs. Rays matchup as one of the lowest-scoring games of the day, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for a winner, we like the Tigers to come out on top. Tarik Skubal has the 6th best strikeout projection among today’s starters, and he also has the 2nd best chance to pick up a win. On the other side, Ryan Pepiot has the 20th best strikeout projection and 4th worst chance to pick up a win.

Tigers in Playoff Mode with Visit from Rays Ahead

Late in a season that started with moderate expectations, a timely surge by the Detroit Tigers has put them in control of their postseason destiny. The Tigers enter their season-ending, six-game homestand tied for the second American League wild-card spot with the Kansas City Royals.

On Tuesday, Detroit (82-74) will host the Tampa Bay Rays with a one-game lead over the Minnesota Twins, who are just outside the wild-card field. The Tigers also have an outside chance to catch the Baltimore Orioles, who lead the wild-card chase by four games.

Tigers’ Remarkable Turnaround

Detroit’s postseason push is especially impressive considering they were nine games under .500 with a 39-48 record after a July 4 loss to the Twins. Since then, the Tigers have won 11 of their last 14 games, including taking two of three games from the Orioles over the weekend.

“We’ve worked our tails off to get the results we are getting,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I’m proud of the effort, but we still have a long way to go. We’re going to stay grounded. … We can be proud of what we’re doing, and we can stay grounded and look forward to the next series.”

Their last seven wins, dating back to Sept. 13, have all been decided by two runs or fewer, including two victories in extra innings.

Key Performers Fuel Tigers’ Success

Kerry Carpenter has been a key contributor to Detroit’s offense, hitting two home runs in Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Orioles. “You can expect him to be super dangerous and give us a chance to change the scoreboard,” Hinch said of Carpenter, whose power has been pivotal in tight games.

Defensively, Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows made a game-saving play by robbing Colton Cowser of a two-run homer, underscoring the team’s chemistry. “There’s such good chemistry on this team, and we’re having a lot of fun and we have each other’s back,” Meadows said.

Tigers’ Ace Tarik Skubal Takes the Mound

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (17-4, 2.48 ERA) will start Tuesday’s opener against the Rays. Skubal has been nearly unbeatable of late, recording five wins and three no-decisions in his last eight starts. He also boasts a 2-0 record with a 1.04 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay, making him a formidable challenge for the Rays.

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Rays Fight to Stay Alive in Playoff Race

The Tampa Bay Rays (78-78) enter the series clinging to slim postseason hopes, thanks to a four-game winning streak. Over the weekend, the Rays swept the Toronto Blue Jays, with each game decided by one run.

“Definitely not the year that anybody wanted or anybody had hoped for,” Rays infielder Brandon Lowe said. “But to be at this point in the season, to have a great homestand, to go out on the road and play against a team that’s been playing incredible baseball as well, it does a lot to still be playing for something.”

Ryan Pepiot Set to Pitch for Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is expected to send right-hander Ryan Pepiot (8-6, 3.64 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. Pepiot is coming off a dominant performance against the Boston Red Sox last Wednesday, where he allowed just one run on two hits while recording a career-best 12 strikeouts in six innings. Pepiot has no decisions and a 1.50 ERA in two career appearances against Detroit.

Rays’ Bats Heating Up

First baseman Jonathan Aranda has been a bright spot for the Rays, homering in all three games against the Blue Jays. As Tampa Bay looks to extend its winning streak, the team hopes Aranda and others can keep producing as they try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.