Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/31/2023

Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  MARQ

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -130, Cubs +110; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -130, Cubs +110; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -130, Cubs +110; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  39-17 (1st place, AL East)

Chicago Cubs:  23-30 (4th place, NL Central)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

Chicago Cubs:  4-6 last 10

The Rays are entering this game off of a loss in their last game but won their 3-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 39-17 record overall and have a road record of 13-11. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .837 OPS. Shane McClanahan is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Zach Eflin is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 7-1 with a 3.17 ERA this season. His team won their last 3 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 0 Ks on 6 hits through 7 IP against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Cubs are entering this game off of a win in their last game after getting swept 3-0 in their 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds in their last series. They enter this game with a 23-30 record overall and have a home record of 14-15. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 10th in the MLB with a .748 OPS. Kyle Hendricks is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Justin Steele is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 6-2 with a 2.77 ERA this season. His team lost their last 3 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 5 earned runs, 0 homers, and 0 BB with 4 strikeouts on 10 hits through 3.2 innings played against the Cincinnati Reds.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays got off to a really hot start this season and they are still surging as they have the best record in the entire MLB. They also have the best offense in the league to go with their great pitching now and they have been a money making team all year. The Cubs have been the complete opposite as they have done nothing but lose money this season and they are sitting at the bottom of their division right now with a losing record too. They have Steele starting in this game who was great in his 1st few starts of the season, but now he is finally regressing as he hasn't been pitching well lately and even gave up 5 runs in his last start. The Rays have Eflin starting here and even though he has given up some runs in his starts, he never gives up a ton of runs in a single start and the Rays have had a lot of success with him on the mound this year as they have a great record with him starting. Steele hasn't been at his best lately and he is going to continue his struggles here against the best offense in the MLB while the Rays have been a money machine all year and have too much value to pass up at this price. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game.

Rays Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, May 31, 2023 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Rays 5 Cubs 0.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 35-12 (+18.6 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 39-17 (+18.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 34-19 OVER in all games. 28-16 OVER as a favorite of -110 or higher. 

Chicago Cubs: 23-30 (-8.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 14-24 (-11.5 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 11-4 OVER at home when the total is 7 to 8.5. 11-5 OVER in an inter-league game.

Tampa Bay Rays:  P. Fairbanks (RP) Out Indefinitely - Hip. Z. Littell (RP) Mid June - Shoulder. S. Armstrong (RP) Early June - Neck. D. Rasmussen (RP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. G. Cleavinger (RP) out for season - Knee. J. Springs (RP) out for season - Elbow. S. Baz (SP) out for season - Elbow. A. Kittredge (RP) Late July - Elbow.

Chicago Cubs:  N. Burdi (RP) Mid June - Appendix. C. Bellinger (CF) Early June - Knee. A. Sampson (SP) Out indefinitely - Knee. B. Boxberger (RP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. C. Heuer (RP) Early June - Elbow. E. Roberts (RP) out for season - Elbow.

“He just had really good stuff. When you have the stuff that he has, and the late movement with the sinker, we were very prepared and aware of what he was going to do. But sometimes all that awareness, it doesn’t matter if the pitcher’s executing like he did today.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s win against the Cubs in their game on Monday.

“I feel like that does a huge job for the bullpen. I feel like that just has a whole trickle down effect that's positive on a team, when a guy's able to go out there and go so many innings. He's able to keep the bullpen fresh and give some momentum going into next game.” - Marcus Stroman after their win against the Rays in their game on Monday.

Yandy Diaz (R) 1B

Wander Franco (S) SS

Brandon Lowe (L) 2B

Randy Arozarena (R) LF

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Taylor Walls (S) 3B

Luke Raley (L) DH

Christian Bethancourt (R) C

Jose Siri (R) CF

Miles Mastrobuoni (L) 3B

Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Mike Tauchman (L) CF

Edwin Rios (L) DH

Matt Mervis (L) 1B

Tucker Barnhart (L) C

Batting Average:  Yandy Diaz (.320)

Hits:  Wander Franco (64)

Home Runs:  Yandy Diaz (12)

RBI:  Randy Arozarena (39)

Stolen Bases:  Wander Franco (19)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (8)

Saves:  Jason Adam (7)

ERA:  Chase Anderson (0.00)

Batting Average:  Mike Tauchman (.308)

Hits:  Nico Hoerner (55)

Home Runs:  Patrick Wisdom (14)

RBI:  Patrick Wisdom (28)

Stolen Bases:  Nico Hoerner (12)

Wins:  Justin Steele (6)

Saves:  Brad Boxberger (2)

ERA:  Tucker Barnhart (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (9th season)

Chicago Cubs: David Ross (4th season)