La Dodgers Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions August 23rd 2024

The forecast for Friday’s Rays vs. Dodgers interleague matchup calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. This one gets started at 10:10 PM ET from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -197. The Rays are +166, and their money line odds are the 4th best in the AL East.

Los Angeles will send Bobby Miller to the mound, while the Rays are starting Tyler Alexander. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs, and BSSUN will be televising this one.

Tampa Bay vs. Los Angeles Key Information

Tyler Alexander is getting the start for the Rays today and has made six starts this season. He has a record of 5-3 and an ERA of 5.17. So far, Alexander has made one quality start and is coming off an outing in which he gave up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work out of the bullpen. In that outing, he gave up one homer. Alexander has been pitching well lately, as he hasn’t taken the loss in any of his last three outings. Opponents are batting .260 off Alexander this season, and his WHIP is 1.28.

So far this season, the Rays offense has really struggled, as they are averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 28th in the league. They haven’t been much better at home, where they are averaging just 3.7 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting just .230 and are near the bottom of the league in both home runs and slugging percentage.

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Yandy Diaz has been one of the few bright spots in the Tampa Bay lineup, as he is batting .274 and leads the team with 55 RBIs. He is also on a four-game hitting streak. Christopher Morel and Jose Siri have also had good power numbers this season, but both are batting under .200.

Right-hander Bobby Miller gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Rays at home. Miller has made eight starts this season and has a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 8.02. Looking back at his last outing, Miller took the loss, going 4 2/3 innings and giving up four earned runs on eight hits. He has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings. Miller’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.84. Opponents are batting .297 off Miller this season.

Shohei Ohtani has been a huge addition to the Dodgers lineup this season, as he is batting .291 with 39 home runs and 88 RBIs, which is good for 8th in the league. Ohtani has also been hot of late, as he is currently on a five-game hitting streak. Teoscar Hernandez is also having a strong season at the plate, as he is batting .265 with 26 homers, and 81 RBIs.

As a team, the Dodgers are 3rd in home runs and are 5th in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are the 8th ranked batting average team in the league, and are 2nd in walks.

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over in this Rays vs. Dodgers matchup, as this is our 3rd highest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Rays to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Bobby Miller as the 6th best strikeout pitcher compared to Tyler Alexander, who is our lowest projected starter in terms of strikeouts.

Dodgers’ Bobby Miller Seeks Redemption in Opener Against Rays

As the Los Angeles Dodgers get ready to confront the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series beginning Friday night, everyone’s eyes will be on right-hander Bobby Mill operator. The Dodgers, who have figured out how to broaden their lead in the National League West, are searching for solidness in their turn, and Mill operator’s presentation could be essential in accomplishing that objective.

Dodgers Hope to Set Turn In the midst of Season finisher Push

The Dodgers as of late saw their NL West lead thin to only two games, yet a solid 5-1 stretch has given them a four-game pad over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Notwithstanding, with the postseason approaching, the Dodgers need additional consistency from their beginning pitchers, and Mill operator’s forthcoming exhibition will be critical.

Mill operator (1-3, 8.02 ERA) has had a difficult season, and his battles went on in his last excursion against the St. Louis Cardinals. Notwithstanding showing further developed control by strolling only one hitter, Mill operator surrendered four sudden spikes in demand for eight hits, including two homers, more than 4 2/3 innings in a 5-2 loss.

“It’s just hard to pitch from behind, and he was behind hitters all night,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Miller’s start against the Cardinals. “It took him three or four innings to find some semblance of a breaking ball. He couldn’t land a curveball (for a strike). … The changeup was a ball out of hand, and then he started to get a little feel for it, but at that time I thought he was out of gas.”

Friday’s game will mark Miller’s first career start against the Rays, and the Dodgers are hopeful that he can bounce back and demonstrate the potential that made him one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.

Roster Moves and Challenges Ahead

The Dodgers made a notable roster move on Thursday, activating versatile player Chris Taylor from the injured list after he recovered from a groin injury. To make room for Taylor, the team designated outfielder Jason Heyward for assignment. Heyward, a veteran presence and clutch performer, will be missed, especially as the Dodgers gear up for the final stretch of the season.

The Rays will counter with left-hander Tyler Alexander (5-3, 5.17 ERA), who is making his seventh start of the season. Alexander has been effective recently, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.25 ERA over his last five appearances. He will face a tough challenge against the Dodgers’ potent left-handed hitters, including Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, in the opening inning.

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Alexander’s only previous start against the Dodgers came in 2022, where he struggled, allowing four runs in just 2 1/3 innings, including a home run to Chris Taylor.

Rays Seeking Consistency Amid Wild-Card Chase

The Tampa Bay Rays enter this series after splitting a four-game road series against the Oakland Athletics, which followed a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite these mixed results, the Rays find themselves seven games out of the final wild-card spot in the American League.

Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Oakland highlighted the Rays’ ongoing offensive struggles, and manager Kevin Cash emphasized the need for his team to improve.

“I don’t think we should accept splits,” Cash said. “That’s not the standard that we’ve set, but that’s what we did. We’ve got to do a better job of finding ways to score runs for sure. For us to get back in the thing, we’ve got to really get hot.”

With time running out in the regular season, the Rays will need to find their rhythm quickly if they hope to make a serious push for a playoff spot.

High Stakes in Dodgers-Rays Showdown

As the Dodgers and Rays go head to head, the two groups are wrestling with their own difficulties. The Dodgers are attempting to settle their pivot and keep up with their lead in the NL West, while the Rays are battling to keep their season finisher trusts alive in the AL. For Bobby Mill operator, this start addresses a potential chance to show what him can do and assist the Dodgers with gathering speed as they head toward October. In the interim, the Rays will be hoping to gain by any shortcomings and paw their direction back into the wild-card race.