Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Best Bet 5/29/23

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs
Date: Monday, May 29th, 2:20 ET
Location: Wrigley Field
TV: MARQ
Money Line: Rays -128/Cubs +109
Total Line: 8.5

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the Chicago Cubs and the Rays on Monday, May 29th at Wrigley 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

Rays vs. Cubs Projected Lineup

	Batting Order	Position
Yandy Díaz	1	1B
Wander Franco	2	SS
Randy Arozarena	3	LF
Brandon Lowe	4	2B
Josh Lowe	5	CF
Taylor Walls	6	SS
Luke Raley	7	RF
Christian Bethancourt	8	C
Jose Siri	9	CF
Taj Bradley	–	SP




	Batting Order	Position
Nico Hoerner	1	SS
Dansby Swanson	2	SS
Ian Happ	3	LF
Seiya Suzuki	4	RF
Mike Tauchman	5	CF
Christopher Morel	6	CF
Matt Mervis	7	1B
Patrick Wisdom	8	3B
Tucker Barnhart	9	C
Marcus Stroman	–	SP




Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

Tampa Bay Rays: 39-16 SU / OU 34-18 / Runline 32-23
Chicago Cubs: 22-30 SU / OU 29-22 / Runline 27-25

The Rays head into today’s game in first place in the AL East on a record of 39-16. Over their last five games, they have put together an above .500 record of 4-1. At home, Tampa Bay is 26-6 and 13-10 on the road. Their overall series record comes in at 11-4-1.

• The Rays have two straight losses vs. the runline and have a season-long run margin of 2.2.
• The Rays have been favored in 87.3% of their games and have runline records of 19-13 and 13-10 at home and on the road, respectively
• The over has hit in 65% of the Rays’ 55 games at 34-18.

If the Cubs are going to climb out of last place in the NL Central, they will need to turn things around with a win over the Rays. Heading into the game, the Cubs have lost four straight games and stand with an overall record of 22-30. On the road, the Cubs are 9-15 and 13-15 at home. The team’s overall series record is 7-8-1.

• The Cubs have four straight losses vs. the runline and have a season-long run margin of 0.1.
• The Cubs have been favored in 51.9% of their games and have runline records of 14-14 and 13-11 at home and on the road, respectively
• The over has hit in 57% of the Cubs’ 52 games at 29-22.

Pitching Matchup




Taj Bradley heads into the game with an overall record of 3-1 and an ERA of 4.44. In his two appearances on the road, he has an ERA of 1.80 and record of 1-0. At home, he has put together a mark of 2-1 and ERA of 6.60. His season-long WHIP stands at 1.15, accompanied by a batting average allowed of .253. Teams facing him have amassed a slugging percentage of .432.

Taj Bradley is coming off an outing against the Blue Jays in which he allowed four runs on nine hits in four innings of work, taking the loss. The Rays lost the game by a score of 20-1.




The Chicago will give the starting nod to Marcus Stroman, entering with a record of 4-4. Stroman is on a two game streak of finishing with fewer than three earned runs allowed. So far, his ERA is 2.95, including a FIP figure of 3.74. Overall, opponents have a slugging percentage of .307 against him. Stroman’s strikeout total currently sits at 54.

Stroman picked up the win in his most recent outing, as he gave up two earned runs and four hits across eight innings vs. the Mets. The Cubs won the game by a score of 4-2.

Rays vs. Cubs Offense Outlook

This season, the Rays are ranked 1st in the league with an average of 6.1 runs per game. Tampa Bay is ranked 1st in home runs, with a total of 101 long balls. Their overall batting average is .273, including .279 on the road and .259 at home.

Tampa Bay Rays Top Hitters vs. Righties




Tampa Bay Rays Top Hitters: Last Five Games




The Cubs have played 52 games and are currently ranked 13th in the league, averaging 4.7 runs per game. Chicago ranks 10th in home runs, (65) and have a collective batting average of .255, including .255 on the road and .243 at home.

Chicago Cubs Top Hitters vs. Righties




Chicago Cubs Top Hitters: Last Five Games




Free MLB Pick

Take the Under 8 +100