Rays vs Diamondbacks Prediction & Best Bets (6/27)

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Published: Tue Jun 27, 2023, 6:06 pm ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Ketel Marte is hitting .263 for the Diamondbacks this year, leading the team with 46 RBIs so far - Diamondbacks Cardinals Picks

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Tampa Bay Rays

Arizona Diamondbacks

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With no series wins in their last four series, the Tampa Bay Rays are coming back to the pack a little bit, even though they still hold MLB's best record for now. Tonight presents an opportunity to make a big impression on the road as they face off with NL Cy Young Award favorite Zac Gallen and the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rays (54-27, 20-17 away) have dropped five of their last eight games, and the Atlanta Braves are now only a game and a half behind them for the best record in the league.

If they want to maintain that best record, Tampa Bay will need to successfully navigate this week's challenge against the Diamondbacks (47-32, 23-18 home), who lead the NL West by two and a half games over the San Francisco Giants, with the Los Angeles Dodgers a further half-game back.

Will Tampa Bay be able to get Gallen off of his game tonight and start this three-game series with a win? Read on for our Rays vs Diamondbacks prediction and best bets.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Arizona Diamondbacks Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 6:00 pm ET.

Moneyline

Tampa Bay Rays +113
Arizona Diamondbacks -135

Over/Under

Over 8 (-120)
Under 8 (+100)

Run Line

Tampa Bay Rays +1.5 (-185)
Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (+160)

Pitching Matchup for Rays vs Diamondbacks

Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Taj Bradley (10 starts, 5-3, 3.86 ERA)
Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (16 starts, 9-2, 2.84 ERA)

Gallen a Good Bet to be First NL Pitcher to Ten Wins

Zac Gallen Arizona Diamondbacks Tampa Bay Rays MLB prediction 6/27/23

After giving up five runs and a season-high ten hits a couple of weeks ago against the Detroit Tigers, Gallen has responded in the best way possible to firmly establish himself as the man to beat for this year's NL Cy Young Award.

6/16 vs Cleveland: 7 IP, 6 H, R, 0 BB, 7 K
6/21 at Milwaukee: 7 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 4 K

Gallen's performance against the Guardians saw him pick up his seventh win in eight home starts this season, and an eighth win is very likely in the cards tonight.

In his eight home starts, Gallen has allowed just seven runs (six earned) in 54 innings and has an ERA of just 1.00. He has compiled 60 strikeouts and issued only seven walks, and he has a WHIP of 0.85.

Gallen has now allowed fewer than two runs in six home starts and in eight of his 16 overall starts this season, and he has gone no fewer than six innings in any of his starts at Chase Field.

Is there any way that the Rays can somehow overcome Gallen's home dominance?

The best route would appear to be having Bradley bring his best as well. It just so happens that he is coming off of one of his best starts of the season. Against the Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday, he allowed one run, three hits, and no walks and struck out eight.

Also, while Bradley's numbers don't touch Gallen's, he has been no slouch on the road. In five road starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA, and he has racked up 38 strikeouts in only 25.1 innings. He has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his road starts, and he has allowed just six earned runs (eight runs total) in those outings.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Rays vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks to win

Best Bets for Rays vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks ML & Rays/Diamondbacks under 8

The Diamondbacks are 15-6 as a home favorite this season, and the under is 13-8-0 in those 21 games. Also, the Rays are just 3-6 as a road underdog this season. Roll with the home team and the under here.