Arizona Diamondbacks vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/26/2026

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Friday, June 26, 2026

Venue:  Tropicana Field, Petersburg, FL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +109, Rays -131; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +110, Rays -130; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +110, Rays -130; Over/Under:  8 runs

Arizona Diamondbacks:  41-39 (3rd place, NL West)

Tampa Bay Rays:  44-33 (2nd place, AL East)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Brian Bitler is on a HOT STREAK in MLB on an 8-3 MLB RUN for +$5,260 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Arizona Diamondbacks:  6-4 last 10

Tampa Bay Rays:  4-6 last 10

The Diamondbacks lost their 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins 2-1. They enter this game with a 41-39 record overall and have a road record of 17-22. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Rays on Friday with the series finale of their series against the St Louis Cardinals still to be played on Thursday. The Diamondbacks lost the series opener of that series on Monday, won the 2nd game on Tuesday, and won the 3rd game on Wednesday. Their offense ranks 26th in the MLB with a .696 OPS. Rookie pitcher Mitch Bratt was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Zac Gallen is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 3-6 with a 6.10 ERA this season. His team lost 4 of their last 5 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 9 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 2 SO on 12 hits through 4 IP against the Minnesota Twins.

The Rays are entering this series off a win and split their 4-game series against the Kansas City Royals 2-2 in their last series. They enter this game with a 45-33 record overall and have a home record of 28-12. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Diamondbacks on Friday. Their offense ranks 15th in the MLB with a .724 OPS. Casey Legumina was their starting pitcher on Thursday while Nick Martinez is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 1 homer, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts on 4 hits through 6 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have looked really good in their games this season with their 45-33 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL East. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 28-12 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have looked good in their games this season with their 41-39 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL West. They haven't been a great road team though with their 17-22 road record this year. The Diamondbacks have looked a lot better lately as they are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but they haven't had a great pitching staff this season and their offense is also near the bottom of the league. The Rays are 4-6 in their last 10 games and haven't been at their best lately, but they do have a great pitching staff to give them the edge in this series and they have some momentum now from the way they ended their last series with 2 straight wins against the Royals. Martinez is starting for the Rays in this one and he has looked great this season too. He is 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs at all. He did give up 3 earned runs in his last start, but that hasn't been a common theme for him this year and the team has still won 2 of their last 3 games with him starting. The Diamondbacks have had a lot of issues with their starting rotation this season, so Martinez and the bullpen is going to give the Rays the edge in this one, especially since they have been one of the best home teams in the league this season too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Diamondbacks Rays Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, June 26, 2026 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 6 Diamondbacks 2.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks, best bets, and expert baseball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this Arizona Diamondbacks Tampa Bay Rays prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily MLB projections and previews.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 98-102 (+5.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 81-97 (+6 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 101-102 (+7.4 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 17-10 UNDER vs. a team with a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.20 or worse.

Tampa Bay Rays: 201-200 (-11.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 145-148 (-14.2 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 83-114 (-22.6 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 5-1 UNDER against NL West opponents.

Arizona Diamondbacks:  M. Soroka (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Lower-Body. J. Lawlar (LF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. R. Nelson (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. J. McCann (C) Ten Day IL - Quad. B. Walston (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Mena (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. A. Puk (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Burnes (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Martinez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Saalfrank (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

Tampa Bay Rays:  J. Heasley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Lux (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. J. Scholtens (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Wrist. J. Fraley (RF) Ten Day IL - Groin. R. Pepiot (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. E. Uceta (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. S. Wilson (RP) Sixty Day IL - Back. M. Rodriguez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“It was a good moment for this ballclub. We’ve been used to seeing those things happen, and I think last night was definitely a catalyst for these good results today.” - Torey Lovullo after his team’s win against the Cardinals in their game on Wednesday. 

“Positive mindset. We’ll be good and we’ll do our best.” - Yandy Diaz after their win against the Royals in their game on Wednesday. 

Ketel Marte (S) DH

Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

Corbin Carroll (L) RF

Gabriel Moreno (R) C

Nolan Arenado (R) 3B

Tommy Troy (R) CF

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF

Ildemaro Vargas (S) 2B

LuJames Groover (R) 1B

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Richie Palacios (L) 2B

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Cedric Mullins (L) CF

Taylor Walls (S) SS

Victor Mesa Jr. (L) RF

Hunter Feduccia (L) C

Batting Average:  Jordan Lawlar (.316)

Hits:  Ketel Marte (81)

Home Runs:  Corbin Carroll (13)

RBI:  Ketel Marte (47)

Stolen Bases:  Geraldo Perdomo (11)

Wins:  Michael Soroka (8)

Saves:  Paul Sewald (18)

ERA:  Jose Cabrera (0.00)

Batting Average:  Yandy Díaz (.331)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (95)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (18)

RBI:  Jonathan Aranda (54)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (19)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (6)

Saves:  Bryan Baker (20)

ERA:  Cam Booser (1.00)

Managers:

Arizona Diamondbacks: Torey Lovullo (10th season)

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (12th season)