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Picks, Prediction for Rays vs Cubs on Tuesday, May 30
The Tampa Bay Rays will be difficult to bet against if you are online gambling Tuesday night as they send their ace to the mound against the hosting Chicago Cubs.
Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan is unbeaten in eight decisions this season, and has never been a losing pitcher in an interleague contest He will still be hard-pressed to match the effort of Chicago’s Marcus Stroman, who pitched a complete-game, one-hitter as the Cubs won the opener of the three-game interleague set 1-0 on Monday.
The Rays have won a major league-best 39 games but are just 13-11 on the road. The Cubs are 14-15 at home, and right-hander Kyle Hendricks gets the start Tuesday.
According to Las Vegas MLB odds, Tampa Bay is currently +650 to win the World Series. The Cubs are +10000.
Rays Seek Rebound
Tampa Bay scored 38 runs to win four of five games at home before starting a seven-game road trip with Monday’s defeat.
Wander Franco had a single in the series opener to extend his hitting streak to six games (11-for-23, six RBIs). Isaac Paredes got the day off Monday after going 7-for-20 with a pair of homers across his last five contests.
The over is 9-1 in Tampa Bay’s last 10 games and 6-1 in the past seven against a right-handed starter, according to MLB odds.
Cubs Lean on Pitchers
Chicago gave up 35 runs while losing four in a row before Monday’s shutout. Now the Cubs hope Stroman’s performance can be the spark they need to turn things around.
Marcus Stroman’s shutout today vs. the Rays was the first complete game by a Cubs pitcher since Alec Mills’ no-hitter on Sept. 13, 2020.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 29, 2023
Despite losing 11 of its last 15 contests, Chicago is still just five games out of first place in the National League Central. The Cubs are in the middle of the pack in the majors for runs scored and Dansby Swanson is 5-for-12 over his past three contests.
The over is still 4-1 across the past five home games for Chicago, according to MLB lines.
Starting Pitchers
Shane McClanahan (8-0, 1.97 ERA) vs Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 6.23 ERA)
McClanahan has allowed one or fewer runs in four of five starts this month. The left-hander is 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 career interleague outings (11 starts) and is 0-0 with a 1.50 mark in one start versus the Cubs last April. Patrick Wisdom homered off McClanahan in that 4-2 Chicago victory at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks missed almost a year due to a capsular tear in his right shoulder and made his return last Thursday against the New York Mets, surrendering five runs (three earned) across 4⅓ innings. “At the end of the day, just getting to this point and getting back out there was No. 1,” Hendricks told reporters. The right-hander is 9-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 33 career interleague starts.
Rays vs Cubs Head-to Head
Tampa Bay won two of three games at the Cubs last season and is 9-5 over the last 14 meetings.
After Monday’s tight game, the over is 4-2 in the last six matchups at Wrigley Field. Rays’ catcher Francisco Mejia was 2-for-3 with three RBIs versus the Cubs in 2022 and owns a homer in his career against Hendricks, who is 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA in one career start versus Tampa Bay.
Rays vs Cubs Game Information
- Game: Rays (39-17) vs Cubs (23-30)
- Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Ill.
- Day/Time: Tuesday, May 30, 8:05 p.m. ET
- Rays vs Cubs Live Stream: MLB.tv
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Rays vs Cubs Betting Lines
Over/Under Pick
McClanahan has allowed two or fewer runs in all but one of his 11 starts, so the under could be a good bet online.
The key will be Hendricks against the league-best Tampa Bay offense, which boasts 101 home runs. But we expect the veteran to be better in his second start after returning from injury.
Pick: Under 8 (-115)
Moneyline Pick
McClanahan will probably lose one at some point, but it likely won’t be this contest. The 26-year-old boasts 75 strikeouts and 25 walks across 64 innings, holding hitters to a .202 average overall, and leads the majors in wins.
Pick: Tampa Bay Rays (-200)
Spread Pick
The Rays should rebound offensively, with Paredes likely back in the lineup and perhaps the addition of Mejia (5-for-11, two homers at Wrigley).
Home dogs are always worth a look, but we think Tampa Bay should break it open late against Chicago’s struggling bullpen if you are betting on MLB spreads.
Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -1½ (-115)
