Rays vs. Reds Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/8/2022

Shane McClanahan will take the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays (45-37) Friday looking for his 10th win of the season in a matchup with the Cincinnati Reds (29-54). The Rays are -161 favorites to pick up the win in the contest, which starts at 6:40 PM ET, live from Great American Ball Park. Tampa Bay’s McClanahan gets the start, and he’ll go against Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo.

Rays vs. Reds Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Reds

After digging through all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup, our best bet is the Reds on the moneyline at +139. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 7.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Cincinnati Reds (+139) and Over (7.5)

Rays vs. Reds Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Shane McClanahan
• Cincinnati Reds probable starting pitcher: Luis Castillo
• Game Day: Friday, July 8, 2022
• Game Time: 6:40 PM ET
• Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
• Stadium: Great American Ball Park

Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds Pitching Matchup

Rays Starter Shane McClanahan

• The Rays will send McClanahan (9-3) to make his 17th start of the season as he goes for his 10th victory. He is 9-3 with a 1.74 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings pitched.
• His most recent time out came on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, when the left-hander tossed 7 2/3 innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up three hits.
• In 16 games this season, the 25-year-old has put up an ERA of 1.74, with 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .179 against him.
• McClanahan is trying to claim his 11th straight quality start in this game.
• McClanahan will aim to go five or more innings for his 15th straight start. He’s averaging 6.0 frames per outing.
• The opposing Reds offense has the 25th-ranked slugging percentage (.375) and ranks 23rd in MLB play with 76 home runs. It has a collective .238 batting average, and is 23rd in MLB with 650 total hits and 18th in MLB action scoring 350 runs.
• Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 25-year-old’s 1.74 ERA ranks second, .814 WHIP ranks second, and 12.2 K/9 ranks second.

Reds Starter Luis Castillo

• Castillo (3-4) will take the mound for the Reds, his 12th start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up one earned run and allowed six hits in 7 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves.
• The 29-year-old has an ERA of 3.09, a 3 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.141 in 11 games this season.
• He’s going for his third quality start in a row.
• Castillo has 10 starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Rays rank 20th in MLB with a .237 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 21st in the league (.379) and 77 home runs.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rays have been favorites in 54 games this season and won 33 (61.1%) of those contests.
• Tampa Bay has a record of 16-6, a 72.7% win rate, when favored by -161 or more by bookmakers this season.
• The Rays have a 61.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Tampa Bay and its opponents have hit the over in 39 of their 82 games with a total this season.
• The Rays are 38-44-0 against the spread this season.

Reds Betting Picks & Insights

• The Reds have been underdogs in 65 games this season and have come away with the win 23 times (35.4%) in those contests.
• This year, Cincinnati has won 10 of 36 games when listed as at least +139 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Reds have a 41.8% chance of walking away with the win.
• Cincinnati and their opponents have hit the over in 45 of their 85 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Reds have posted a record of 37-48-0 against the spread this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with a .295 batting average.
• Of all hitters in the majors, Diaz ranks 257th in home runs and 242nd in RBI.
• Diaz brings a hitting streak of 11 games into this game. During his last 10 outings he is batting .500 with six doubles, nine walks and three RBI.
• Randy Arozarena has been productive as he paces his team with 39 runs batted in.
• Including all MLB hitters, Arozarena ranks 90th in home runs and 62nd in RBI.
• Arozarena enters this game looking for his third game in a row with a hit. During his last five outings he is batting .300 with three doubles, two home runs, two walks and five RBI.
• Wander Franco has 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 16 walks while hitting .257.
• Franco is on a nine-game hitting streak entering this contest. During his last 10 outings he is batting .231 with a double, a home run, six walks and four RBI.
• Harold Ramirez is hitting .314 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 14 walks.

Reds Leaders & Batting Stats

• Brandon Drury paces the Reds with 17 long balls and runs batted in, driving in 47.
• Among all hitters in the majors, Drury is 17th in home runs and 26th in RBI.
• Tommy Pham has 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 36 walks while batting .252.
• Pham is currently 63rd in homers and 78th in RBI in the major leagues.
• Kyle Farmer has a team-high batting average of .275.
• Joey Votto has 15 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 33 walks while hitting .210.