NL, AL Best Teams
The two teams with the most wins in the National and American League will meet when the Los Angeles Dodgers start a series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. This will be one of the highest-profile matchups of the weekend, with MLB betting enthusiasts keeping an eye on it.
While it is still too early for MLB playoffs odds, these teams met in the 2020 World Series, and there is a strong possibility it will happen again as the Dodgers and Rays have become quick front-runners this season.
Dodgers Coming Off Big Series Win
Two teams have separated themselves in the NL, the Dodgers, and the Atlanta Braves. LA’s last series was against the Braves, winning the first two games of three. The series was on the road, which boosted the Dodgers’ MLB odds.
J.D. Martinez hits his second HR of the night! 💣
(via @Dodgers)pic.twitter.com/VjCrFEmxqz
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 23, 2023
J.D. Martinez especially had an excellent series, hitting three homers, with five runs batted in and a batting average of .500. He has been getting hot recently, with four HRs and 11 RBIs, with a batting average of .337 over the last seven games.
Rays Stumble
The AL East is MLB’s top division, with every team having a winning record. The Rays are atop and just faced the last-place Toronto Blue Jays. While the Rays won the series, there was a game that shocked MLB news.
In Game 2, the Blue Jays beat the Rays 20-1, putting a little dent into the Rays’, so far, great season. Tampa Bay would win the other three games by a combined scoreline of 19-10, having a clear advantage, but that one big loss still surprised the MLB lines.
Starting Pitchers
Noah Syndergaard (1-3, 5.88 ERA) vs Jalen Beeks (1-2, 4.68)
With all the injuries to the Dodgers starting rotations, some names will need to step up. One that could make an impact is Noah Syndergaard. He has not been great through his first nine starts, with a 5.88 ERA. It does seem like he is starting to get back into a rhythm, having a 4.50 ERA in three starts through May, but one outing was only one inning.
Jalen Beeks will be getting the start for the Rays but likely won’t stay on the mound for too long. Beeks has often been used as an opener for Tampa Bay, starting in five of his 18 appearances. It has become a little more commonplace recently, with him being an opener in three of his last five outings. He has been great in this role, having only allowed two runs in May in eight appearances, 11.2 innings.
Dodgers vs Rays Head-to-Head
The last time these teams played was during the 2020 World Series, with the Dodgers taking four victories from six games.
Dodgers vs Rays Game Information
- Game: Dodgers (31-20) vs Rays (37-15)
- Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
- Day/Time: Friday, May 26, 6:40 p.m. EST
- Dodgers vs Rays Live Stream: MLB.tv
Dodgers vs Rays Betting Lines