Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies: Can the Phillies bounce back?

The Tampa Bay Rays are visiting the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

The Rays have split the last ten games

The Tampa Bay Rays are fourth in the AL East with a 71-72 record and 34-34 on the road. The Rays have won 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay has a 3.89 ERA, a .237 batting average, a .302 on-base percentage, and 1.23 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Yandy Diaz leads the team with 144 and 51 runs, while Jose Siri leads with 17 home runs.

Is this the season for the Phillies?

The Philadelphia Phillies are on top of the NL East with the second-best record in the MLB, 85-58, including 47-25 at home. After winning six consecutive games, they lost the last two against the Miami Marlins. The Phillies have a 3.75 ERA, a .238 batting average, a .301 on-base percentage, and 1.21 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Alec Bohm leads the team with 147 hits, Kyle Schwarber is on top with 97 runs, and 33 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Phillies are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games overall, 9-3 SU in their last 12 home games and 2-5 SU in their last 7 home games against the Rays. Philadelphia has played over the total run line in 4 of their last 6 games overall, 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the AL East and 5 of their last 6 games played on Monday. The Rays are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games overall, 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against the Phillies and 11-4 SU in their last 15 games against teams from the NL East. Tampa Bay has played under the total run line in 14 of their last 19 games overall and has gone over in 5 of their last 7 games against teams from the NL.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Tampa Bay Rays have a chance to reach .500 tonight in Philadelphia after they won back-to-back games against the Orioles, allowing only one run in those games. The Phillies are not in good form, losing the last two against one of the worst teams in the league, the Miami Marlins. Still, the Phillies are the team with the second-best record in the league. They will try to bounce back with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, who is 10-9 for the season with a 3.45 ERA, 131 K, 159 IP, and 1.26 WHIP. The Rays will give a shot to Cole Sulser, who is 0-0 for the season with a 4.35 ERA, 11 K, 10.1 IP, and 1.35 WHIP. The Phillies have won the last three games against the Rays, and that run will continue today.