Game Time: 6:40 pm ET, Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Venue: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Where to Watch: FDSSUN, FDSDET
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Moneyline odds: Rays +110, Tigers -130; Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Bet365: Moneyline odds: Rays +108, Tigers -132; Over/Under: 8.5 runs
BetMGM: Moneyline odds: Rays +110, Tigers -130; Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Season Record
Tampa Bay Rays: 49-41 (3rd place, AL East)
Detroit Tigers: 57-34 (1st place, AL Central)
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Tampa Bay Rays: 4-6 last 10
Detroit Tigers: 7-3 last 10
Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers Preview and Analysis
The Rays are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 49-41 record overall and have a road record of 21-16. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Tigers on Tuesday with the series opener still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .734 OPS. Shane Baz is their starting pitcher on Monday while Ryan Pepiot is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 6-6 with a 3.34 ERA this season. His team won 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 2 HR, and 3 BB with 9 SO on 4 hits through 6 IP against the Athletics.
The Tigers are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 57-34 record overall and have a home record of 30-14. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Tuesday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 6th in the MLB with a .748 OPS. Keider Montero is their starting pitcher on Monday while Dietrich Enns is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA this season. His team lost their last game this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 7 earned runs, 2 homers, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts on 8 hits through 4 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals.
Rays vs Tigers Prediction
The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have looked good in their games this season with their 49-41 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL East. They have been a good road team too with their 21-16 road record this season. Meanwhile, the Tigers have looked great in their games this season with their 57-34 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL Central with one of the best records in the entire MLB. They have also looked great in their own ballpark this year with their 30-14 home record. The Tigers have been the hotter team lately as they are 7-3 in their last 10 games while the Rays are 4-6 and have been cooling off a lot from the hot streak they were on, but they do have the better pitching matchup in this one and they can take advantage of that. Pepiot is on the mound for the Rays in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 6-6 with a 3.34 ERA and hasn't been giving up a lot of runs all year. He is coming off a good start in which he only gave up 2 earned runs and the team has had success with him lately, winning 3 of the last 4 games he started in. The Tigers have one of the best bullpens in the MLB this year, but they are going with Enns in this one and that could be a big problem for them. He is 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA this season and he was terrible in his last start, giving up 7 earned runs in 4 innings. Even with the great bullpen, Enns could put the Tigers in serious trouble to start this game and the Rays do have a good pitching staff themselves. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game.
Rays Tigers Prediction: Our MLB Pick for Tuesday, July 8, 2025 (6:40 pm ET start time) is Rays 4 Tigers 3.
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MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay Rays: 163-150 (-6.1 units) on the moneyline vs. good fielding teams - averaging 0.6 errors/game or less. 70-76 (-10.5 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better. 33-43 (-13.5 units) on the moneyline vs. AL teams scoring 4.9 or more runs/game on the season. 17-7 UNDER on the road when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 62%).
Detroit Tigers: 225-198 (+40.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 111-97 (+7.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 106-58 (+21.2 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 30-18 UNDER as a home favorite of -125 to -175.
Key Injuries
Tampa Bay Rays: B. Lowe (2B) Day To Day - Side Soreness. H. Kim (SS) Day To Day - Calf. M. Rodriguez (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. J. DeLuca (CF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. H. Bigge (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Lat. S. McClanahan (SP) Sixty Day IL - Triceps. R. Palacios (LF) Ten Day IL - Knee. A. Faedo (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. N. Lavender (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.
Detroit Tigers: S. Guenther (RP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. G. Torres (2B) Day To Day - Neck. S. Gipson-Long (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Neck. K. Carpenter (RF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Jobe (SP) Sixty Day IL - Flexor. J. Foley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. A. Cobb (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. T. Madden (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. J. Urquidy (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Lange (RP) Sixty Day IL - Lat.
Notable Quotes
“I think that we were trying to be smart with it and cautious. He said he felt it -- just take him out of the game.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s win against the Twins in their game on Sunday.
“[Clase] was so long to the plate in the first at-bat, I knew he would change his delivery a little bit, just putting Z-Mac in there. If he lifted his leg, we were going to steal it. If he went slide step, maybe it would disrupt his timing to pitch. But Z-Mac's a real threat.” - A.J. Hinch after his team’s win against the Guardians in their game on Sunday.
Starting Lineups
Tampa Bay Rays
Yandy Díaz (R) DH
Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
Junior Caminero (R) 3B
Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
Jake Mangum (S) LF
Josh Lowe (L) RF
Taylor Walls (S) SS
Chandler Simpson (L) CF
Matt Thaiss (L) C
Detroit Tigers
Colt Keith (L) 2B
Matt Vierling (R) DH
Riley Greene (L) LF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Wenceel Pérez (S) RF
Dillon Dingler (R) C
Parker Meadows (L) CF
Javier Báez (R) 3B
Trey Sweeney (L) SS
Statistical Leaders
Tampa Bay Rays
Batting Average: Richie Palacios (.750)
Hits: Yandy Díaz (98)
Home Runs: Junior Caminero (21)
RBI: Junior Caminero (57)
Stolen Bases: José Caballero (31)
Wins: Shane Baz (8)
Saves: Pete Fairbanks (15)
ERA: Joe Boyle (0.00)
Detroit Tigers
Batting Average: Brewer Hicklen (.667)
Hits: Riley Greene (98)
Home Runs: Riley Greene (22)
RBI: Riley Greene (71)
Stolen Bases: Zach McKinstry (11)
Wins: Tarik Skubal (10)
Saves: Will Vest (14)
ERA: Matt Gage (0.00)
Managers:
Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (11th season)
Detroit Tigers: A.J. Hinch (5th season)