Tigers vs Rays Odds and Picks (May 16)

• The Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays face off at Tropicana Field on Monday, May 16th
• AJ Hinch’s club owns the worst record in the American League, while Kevin Cash’s group is still a perennial contender
• Read below for the Tigers vs Rays odds and betting preview

The Detroit Tigers (12-23) face the Tampa Bay Rays (21-14) on Monday at Tropicana Field. The series opener has a scheduled first pitch of 6:40 pm ET. The Tigers will send Alex Faedo to the hill, while the home team counters with Corey Kluber.

Tampa Bay is a big home favorite in this one and have +550 odds to win the AL East. Meantime, the Tigers have +2200 odds to win the AL Central. Hinch’s club is expected to win 78.5 games, while the Rays are projected to win 89.5 in the MLB win totals.

Tigers vs Rays Odds

Odds as of May 15th at Barstool Sportsbook.

Detroit vs Tampa Bay Probable Pitchers

Faedo — who the Detroit organization drafted not once, but twice (first as a 40th rounder in 2014, then as a 1st rounder in 2017) — has pitched well since being inserted into the rotation earlier this month. He’s coming off a five-inning effort against the A’s last Tuesday, in which he allowed four hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out seven in an eventual 4-1 defeat.

While the Florida native has yet to earn a quality start in either of his first two outings — or lead Detroit to victory (Hinch’s club is 0-2 in his turns) — the 26-year-old has shown signs of paying future dividends. He’s gone ten innings, allowing 12 hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out eight and only surrendering one big fly and posting a 3.60 ERA.

Care to watch all the swings and misses Alex Faedo induced yesterday? pic.twitter.com/WFj1obflMw

— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrown0914) May 11, 2022

Meantime, two-time Cy Young Award winner Kluber is coming off one of the worst outings of his career last Tuesday. The 36-year-old allowed 11 hits, eight earned runs and no walks while striking out only two and surrendering a pair of homers in a 12-0 drubbing by the Angels. That outing, however, was preceded by consecutive quality starts against the Twins and A’s. Kluber tossed a combined 12 innings against Minnesota and Oakland, allowing only four hits, one earned run and a walk while striking out 13. The Rays are 3-3 in games he’s started this season.

Corey Kluber gave up eight runs tonight. The only other time he did that…

Nine years ago today, 5/10/13

— JT (@jonastbaseball) May 11, 2022

• • Alex Faedo vs Corey Kluber

    Alex Faedo

    VS

    Corey Kluber

    0-1	Record	1-2
    3.60	ERA	4.55
    3.90	xERA	5.55
    18.6%	K%	21.6%

The Tigers enter the Trop with a bit of momentum, coming off their first series win of the season, sweeping the Orioles. Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera was keyed Detroit against Baltimore, going 6-for-10 over the three games with a pair of solo big flies, including one in Sunday’s 5-1 victory.

Miguel Cabrera Forever pic.twitter.com/qwBtV8JRZe

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) May 15, 2022

Meanwhile, the Rays are coming off a series victory against the Blue Jays, shutting out Toronto 3-0 on Sunday. Matt Chapman’s throwing error allowed Tampa Bay to break a scoreless tie in the sixth as six hitters recorded a hit to help key the win. The series win followed a 7-3 road trip against Oakland, Seattle and the LA Angels.The Brewers have +1400 odds to win the Fall Classic, while the Reds are +100000 longshots in the World Series odds.

Detroit vs Tampa Bay Last 10 Meetings

Tigers vs Rays Prediction

Faedo has pitched well in limited action and the Tigers are coming off their best series — by far — of the season. But I’m not sure Cabrera and Co. will be able to sustain the success against Kluber and a stout Tampa Bay bullpen. I like the home favorites in this spot.

Pick: Rays -1.5 (+104)