Rays vs. Diamondbacks Prediction & Pick (April 24): Rasmussen vs. Burnes Showdown

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Date: Thursday, April 24th, 9:40 ET
Location: Chase Field
TV: None
Money Line: Rays +115/Diamondbacks -136
Total Line: 7.5

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Rays on Thursday, April 24th at Chase Field. We provide you with a comprehensive analysis, odds, and predictions to help with your handicapping decision or tail our expert based on the projected lineups and listed starting pitchers.

Betting Odds

Corbin Burnes and the Diamondbacks (14-10) are the betting favorite (-136) over the Rays, who are starting Drew Rasmussen. Tampa Bay comes into the game with a record of 10-14 and is 4th in the AL East. The over/under line is currently 7.5 runs.

First pitch from Chase Field is set for 9:40 PM ET, and this one is an interleague matchup. The Rays are +115 on the money line compared to the Diamondbacks, who are 4th in the NL West.

Rays vs. Diamondbacks Projected Lineup

Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

Tampa Bay Rays: 10-14 SU / OU 10-12 / Runline 10-14
Arizona Diamondbacks: 14-10 SU / OU 11-10 / Runline 14-10

Tampa Bay picked up a 7-6 win over the Diamondbacks in the most recent game of this series. The Rays had a two-run lead heading into the 7th inning but had to hold on for the win as the D-backs scored one run in the 7th and added two more in the 11th. Heading into the game, the Rays were at +137 on the money line.

Both teams finished with 13 hits in the game, and the Rays actually had one more extra-base hit than the D-backs (6 to 5). Tampa Bay’s offense was led by Christopher Morel, Yandy Diaz, and Kameron Misner, as they were the only three Rays hitters to have more than one hit.

Pete Fairbanks got the win for the Rays out of the bullpen, while Eric Orze got the save. Drey Jameson took the loss for Arizona out of the bullpen.

Rays Records & Recent Play

Tampa Bay is 4th in the AL East, trailing the Yankees by 4.5 games. Overall, the Rays are 10-14 and are 2-5 against other teams in the AL East. The Rays will be looking to even up their record on the road, as they are 1-4 this year.

So far, the Rays have dropped two straight series, and their overall series record is 3-4. As the underdog, the Rays are 10-14 this year, and they have yet to play a game as the favorite. At home, the Rays are 9-10.

Diamondbacks Records & Recent Play

Arizona is 14-10 overall and trails the Padres by 2.5 games in the NL West. So far, they have yet to play a game against another NL West team. The Diamondbacks are 7-5 both at home and on the road this season.

The Diamondbacks have an overall series record of 4-2-1 this year, and they are 7-3 over their last 10 games. As the underdog, Arizona has posted a mark of 14-10 this season.

Pitching Matchup

Drew Rasmussen is on the mound for the Rays as they take on the Diamondbacks. This will be his first road start of the season. In his last start, he took the loss against the Yankees, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs. He did strike out 7 in that outing.

Corbin Burnes will be making his third start of the season for the Diamondbacks, and he will be facing the Rays at home. Burnes has gone six innings in each of his first two starts, and he has three earned runs in each outing. He has 15 strikeouts in 12 innings of work and has given up three home runs.

Rays vs. Diamondbacks Offense Outlook

Heading into the game, the Rays are batting .256 as a team, which is the 6th best mark in the league. Overall, they are averaging 4.2 runs per game, and their home mark of 4.5 runs per contest is 14th in the league. Tampa Bay has been good at avoiding strikeouts this season, as they are 8th in the league in this category. Currently, they have three players with at least 10 RBIs, including Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Brandon Lowe.

Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe are both near the top of the league in home runs, but both are batting below .230 for the season. Jake Mangum has been hot of late, batting .400 over his last 10 games, but he has yet to go deep this season. Junior Caminero has three homers in his last 10 games but is batting just .244 over that stretch.

Arizona’s offense has been one of the best in the league so far this season, as they are 3rd in the MLB in runs per game (5.5) and have been even better on the road, averaging 5.8 runs per contest. The Diamondbacks are also among the league leaders in home runs and have the 2nd ranked on-base percentage in the league. Overall, they have the 2nd best OPS in the league and are 3rd in team slugging.

Corbin Carroll has been one of the league’s top power threats so far this season, as his nine home runs are the most in the MLB. He has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 8/23 in his last five games with three homers. However, Eugenio Suarez has struggled this season, batting just .155.

Free Rays vs. Diamondbacks MLB Pick

I think Corbin Burnes puts together a great outing vs the Rays today, and there is a lot of value in getting Arizona at -136. I think the D-Backs should be favored even more with Burnes on the mound, and I’m grabbing them on the money line.