Philadelphia Phillies vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions September 9th 2024

First pitch for Monday’s matchup between the Rays and Phillies is set for 6:40 PM ET from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. The Phillies are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -200, while the Rays are at +166. For a full breakdown of the betting odds, check out the latest MLB odds here. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.

NSPPH will be televising this interleague matchup, and the Phillies will be looking to end a two-game losing streak. They are 85-58 this season and are first in the NL East. The Rays are 71-72 and are 4th in the AL East. Monday’s starting pitching matchup features Cole Sulser for the Rays and Cristopher Sanchez for the Phillies.

Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Rays at Phillies
• Where: Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
• Date: Monday, September 9th
• Betting Odds PHI -200 | TB +166 O/U 8

The Rays Can Win If…

Tampa Bay is sending Cole Sulser to the mound today, and he has made one start and seven appearances this season. Sulser’s ERA is 4.36, and he has a WHIP of 1.35. So far, he has a record of 0-0 and has issued 5.23 walks per nine innings compared to 9.58 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .229 this season off Sulser. In his most recent outing, he faced the Twins and went two innings, giving up one hit and one walk. He didn’t allow a run in that outing and finished with a no-decision. Sulser has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three outings.

As a team, the Rays are averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and team batting average. However, they do have the 8th fewest strikeouts in the league and are one of the better teams in terms of drawing walks. Tampa Bay’s team OPS of .673 is also near the bottom of the league.

Yandy Diaz has been a bright spot for the Rays offense this season, as he is batting .279 with 14 homers and 64 RBIs. Over his last six games, he has gone 8/23 with two homers. Christopher Morel is just batting .198 this season, but he does have 21 homers and is currently on a four-game hitting streak.

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• The Rays are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rays are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 5-3-2 in their last ten games.
• The Rays have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rays are 4-6
• Looking back across the Rays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Tampa Bay has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rays have averaged 2.9 runs per game on offense

The Phillies Can Win If…

Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez has made 27 appearances this season and has a record of 10-9 with an ERA of 3.45. He has pitched much better at home, coming in with a record of 7-3 and an ERA of 2.46. Sánchez has two complete games and one shutout this year. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight outings. Sánchez’s ERA for the season is 3.45.

So far this season, the Phillies offense is 5th in the league at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.1 runs per game, which is the 2nd best mark in the league. Overall, they are 4th in team batting average and have the 7th most home runs in the league.

Kyle Schwarber has been on a tear of late, going 13/34 with five homers and 11 RBIs over his last eight games. For the season, Schwarber leads the Phillies with 33 homers and is 10th in the league with 93 RBIs. Bryce Harper is also having a strong season, batting .285 with 26 homers and 79 RBIs.

• The Phillies are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Phillies are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Philadelphia has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Phillies have an average of 6.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Phillies are 6-4
• Looking back across the Phillies last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Philadelphia has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Phillies have averaged 6.9 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as we have this as the 3rd lowest-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, Cristopher Sánchez has the 5th best odds to pick up the win, but he is also 5th in our projections in strikeouts. Cole Sulser has the 3rd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.

The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for a crucial three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays starting Monday night in Philadelphia. Both teams are coming off contrasting weekends, and for the Phillies, who are battling injuries and inconsistency, All-Star pitcher Cristopher Sanchez will be the key to turning their fortunes around.

Phillies Counting on Cristopher Sanchez to Spark Turnaround Against Rays

The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for a crucial three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays starting Monday night in Philadelphia. Both teams are coming off contrasting weekends, and for the Phillies, who are battling injuries and inconsistency, All-Star pitcher Cristopher Sanchez will be the key to turning their fortunes around.

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Rays Riding High After a Strong Weekend

The Rays are coming into this matchup with some serious momentum. They may have dropped the series opener to the Baltimore Orioles, but they bounced back with two huge wins, including a commanding 7-1 victory and a shutout on Sunday. Their pitching was lights out, allowing just five hits in the shutout, and Jonny DeLuca’s two-run homer powered the offense. Heading into this series, the Rays’ pitching staff looks like a well-oiled machine—a major advantage as they face the Phillies.

Phillies’ Inconsistent Weekend Ends in Disaster

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ weekend was a roller coaster. They started strong against the Miami Marlins, winning the first two games, only to get blown out in the last two, culminating in an embarrassing 19-6 loss on Sunday. Rookie Seth Johnson got roughed up, giving up nine runs in just over two innings during his debut. It was a brutal wake-up call for Philadelphia’s pitching staff, which got rocked all weekend. Now, they’re desperately looking to regroup before this critical showdown.

Cristopher Sanchez: Philly’s Key to Bouncing Back

For the Phillies, all eyes are on left-handed pitcher Cristopher Sanchez. With a solid 10-9 record and a 3.45 ERA, he’s been one of their most reliable arms this season, and they need him more than ever. Interestingly, Sanchez came from the Rays’ farm system before being traded to Philadelphia in 2019, making this matchup all the more intriguing.

Sanchez’s Recent Form

Sanchez has been on fire lately, sporting a 2.60 ERA over his last four starts. In his latest outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, he allowed just two runs over seven innings, fanning seven batters without issuing a single walk. He started a bit shaky but rebounded in a big way, showing the kind of poise and maturity that manager Rob Thomson has praised.

Thomson had this to say about Sanchez: “That’s the thing about Sanchez’s growth and maturity. A few years ago, he might’ve crumbled after a rough inning, but now he knows how to stay composed and stick to the process.”

Facing His Old Team

Sanchez has already proven he can handle his former team. Back in July 2023, he held the Rays to just one run over six innings. If he can replicate that success against Tampa Bay’s disciplined lineup, the Phillies might have a shot at getting back on track.

Rays’ Pitching Poses a Major Threat

On the other side, the Rays are handing the ball to Cole Sulser, who’s been quietly impressive since coming over from the New York Mets. While he hasn’t pitched much for the Rays, Sulser’s made the most of his limited action, boasting a spotless record over 5 2/3 innings. In his last appearance, he tossed two scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins.

Tampa Bay’s Deep Pitching Arsenal

The Rays’ pitching staff has been rock-solid, led by Zack Littell, who threw five scoreless innings in Sunday’s shutout. Littell didn’t mince words after the game, saying: “I don’t think there’s any doubt that our pitching can shut down any lineup in the league.”

That’s not good news for a Phillies lineup that’s already stretched thin due to injuries.

Phillies’ Injury Woes Keep Mounting

Injuries have hit the Phillies at the worst possible time. Alec Bohm (hand) and Austin Hays (kidney) are still sidelined, while J.T. Realmuto is day-to-day with a knee issue. On top of that, Edmundo Sosa was added to the injured list on Sunday due to a back injury, making things even tougher for Philadelphia.

Manager Rob Thomson didn’t hide his concerns: “I’m always worried about health, no matter what the situation is… We need our guys back on the field.”

With key players out, the burden falls on the Phillies’ heavy hitters—Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Nick Castellanos—to carry the load. Schwarber leads the team with 33 home runs, while Harper and Castellanos have 26 and 19, respectively. But against the Rays’ dominant pitching, they’ll need to find some consistency.

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Can the Rays’ Offense Keep Up?

While Tampa Bay’s pitching is top-tier, their offense has been a bit inconsistent. Jonny DeLuca has been on a tear lately, with three multi-hit games in his last four outings, but Josh Lowe has been struggling, going just 1-for-15 in his last four games. If the Rays want to continue their winning ways, they’ll need more balance in their lineup.

What’s at Stake?

For the Phillies, this series against the Rays is a golden opportunity to regain some momentum as they fight for playoff positioning. But it’s not going to be easy. They need Cristopher Sanchez to stay locked in and keep Tampa Bay’s offense in check. If Sanchez can stay hot, it might be the spark the Phillies need to push through the injuries and inconsistency.

On the other hand, the Rays are looking to build on their recent success. Their pitching staff is firing on all cylinders, and they’ll be banking on that to stifle Philadelphia’s dangerous but depleted lineup. With both teams gunning for a win, this series is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown.

Conclusion

As the Phillies and Rays prepare to square off, Cristopher Sanchez finds himself in the spotlight. The Phillies need him to deliver a standout performance to halt their skid and set the tone for the rest of the series. Even with injuries weighing them down, a dominant Sanchez and some timely hitting from their star players could be the recipe for a turnaround. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s deep and confident pitching staff is ready to take on the challenge and exploit the Phillies’ vulnerabilities.

In what promises to be a high-stakes series, all eyes will be on the mound to see who comes out on top.