Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 09/09/2026

 

Game Time: 7:15 pm ET, Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA 

Where to Watch:  MLB TV, MLB Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +105, Braves -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +105, Braves -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +105, Braves -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  85-58 (1st place, AL East)

Atlanta Braves:  85-59 (1st place, NL East)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  6-4 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a loss and split their 4-game series against the Texas Rangers 2-2 in their last series. They enter this game with an 85-58 record overall and have a road record of 38-33. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Braves on Wednesday with the series opener still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 6th in the MLB with a .732 OPS. Freddy Peralta is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Griffin Jax is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 6-10 with a 3.82 ERA this season. His team lost their last 3 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 3 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 1 SO on 7 hits through 2.2 IP against the New York Mets.

The Braves are entering this series off a loss and split their 4-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies 2-2 in their last series. They enter this game with an 85-59 record overall and have a home record of 48-24. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Wednesday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 13th in the MLB with a .722 OPS. AJ Smith-Shawver is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Reynaldo López is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts on 5 hits through 5.2 innings pitched against the Baltimore Orioles.

The current betting odds have the Braves listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have looked great in their games this season with their 85-58 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have been a good road team too with their 38-33 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Braves have looked great in their games this season with their 85-59 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 48-24 home record this season. The Rays are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have looked good lately, but the Braves are also 6-4 in their last 10 games and have one of the best home records in the league this year while the Rays haven't been at their best in road games. The Rays are going with Jax in this one and he hasn't looked bad this season. He is 6-10 with a 3.82 ERA, but the team hasn't had a ton of success with him. They have lost 3 games in a row now with him starting and he is coming off a start giving up 3 earned runs which has been a common theme for him. He does have a great bullpen to help him out, but they haven't helped much in a lot of his starts this year and the Braves have also been pitching really well lately. The Braves have been getting healthier too with their pitching staff and they could have a key starter returning for this game. Look for the Braves to edge out the Rays in this one at home where the Braves have looked so much better this season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Braves to win this game. 

Rays Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (7:15 pm ET start time) is Braves 4 Rays 2.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 77-59 (+14.7 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 62-42 (+16.7 units) on the moneyline vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse. 53-42 (+13.6 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.45 or better. 25-15 UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record.

Atlanta Braves: 250-220 (-39.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 133-101 (-16.7 units) on the moneyline in home games. 166-161 (-45.4 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 11-5 UNDER vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better.

Tampa Bay Rays:  G. Cleavinger (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. M. Rodriguez (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Back. S. McClanahan (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. B. Baker (RP) Day To Day - Illness. B. Williamson (2B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Fraley (RF) Sixty Day IL - Groin. J. Heasley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Lux (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. R. Pepiot (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. E. Uceta (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

Atlanta Braves:  R. Suarez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Lopez (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. S. Strider (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Wentz (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. J. Jimenez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Schwellenbach (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“Not good enough.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the Rangers in their game on Sunday. 

“It would have been great to take three out of four, but, winning that game yesterday, that was a pivotal win. You want to win the series, but all things considered, not a bad outcome.” - Walt Weiss after his team’s loss against the Phillies in their game on Monday. 

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Ryan Vilade (R) 2B

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Jonny DeLuca (R) CF

Jorge Mateo (R) SS

Victor Mesa Jr. (L) RF

Nick Fortes (R) C

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Ronald Acuña Jr. (R) RF

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Drake Baldwin (L) DH

Mauricio Dubón (R) SS

Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Mike Yastrzemski (L) LF

Sean Murphy (R) C

Batting Average:  Liam Hicks (.313)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (167)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (38)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (92)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (39)

Wins:  Drew Rasmussen (14)

Saves:  Bryan Baker (39)

ERA:  Ty Johnson (0.00)

Batting Average:  Jair Camargo (.500)

Hits:  Michael Harris (152)

Home Runs:  Matt Olson (37)

RBI:  Michael Harris (80)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuña (20)

Wins:  Chris Sale (14)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (31)

ERA:  Hunter Stratton (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (12th season)

Atlanta Braves: Walt Weiss (1st season)