Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/09/2025

Game Time: 1:10 pm ET, Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Venue:  Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

Where to Watch:  MLB.tv, FDSSUN, WTOG, FDSDET

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +128, Tigers -156; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +125, Tigers -150; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +125, Tigers -150; Over/Under:  8 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  49-42 (3rd place, AL East)

Detroit Tigers:  58-34 (1st place, AL Central)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  3-7 last 10

Detroit Tigers:  7-3 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 49-42 record overall and have a road record of 21-17. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Tigers on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The Rays lost the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 11th in the MLB with a .731 OPS. Ryan Pepiot is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Zack Littell is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 7-7 with a 3.50 ERA this season. His team lost 4 of their last 5 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB with 5 SO on 4 hits through 6 IP against the Minnesota Twins.

The Tigers are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 58-34 record overall and have a home record of 31-14. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Tigers won the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 6th in the MLB with a .750 OPS. Jack Flaherty is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Reese Olson is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 4-3 with a 2.89 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned run, 1 homer, and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts on 6 hits through 4.1 innings pitched against the Cleveland Guardians.

The current betting odds have the Tigers listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have looked good in their games this season with their 49-42 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL East. They have been a good road team too with their 21-17 road record this season. Meanwhile, the Tigers have looked great in their games this season with their 58-34 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL Central with one of the best records in the entire MLB. They have also looked great in their own ballpark this year with their 31-14 home record. They have one of the best home records in the MLB right now and they also have the better pitching matchup in this game. The Tigers are going with Olson in this one and he has looked great all season for them. He is 4-3 with a 2.89 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs lately. His team has lost 2 of the last 3 games that he started in, but he only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and that has been a common theme for him this year. The Rays are going with Littell in this one and he hasn't looked bad this season, but he hasn't been great either. He is 7-7 with a 3.50 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs lately, but his team hasn't had a ton of success with him either. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start, but the team has lost 4 of their last 5 games with him starting and this is a really good Tigers offense that he will be facing. The Rays have also cooled off lately after going on a hot streak so the Tigers can take advantage of this pitching matchup at home. The best way to place a bet here is on the Tigers to win this game. 

Rays Tigers Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, July 9, 2025 (1:10 pm ET start time) is Tigers 5 Rays 2.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 70-76 (-10.5 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better. 33-44 (-14.6 units) on the moneyline vs. AL teams scoring 4.9 or more runs/game on the season. 43-52 (-8.9 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better. 18-7 UNDER on the road when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 62%).

Detroit Tigers: 226-198 (+41.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 112-97 (+8.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 106-58 (+21.2 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 30-18 UNDER as a home favorite of -125 to -175.

Tampa Bay Rays:  B. Lowe (2B) Day To Day - Side Soreness. H. Kim (SS) Day To Day - Calf. M. Rodriguez (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. J. DeLuca (CF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. H. Bigge (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Lat. S. McClanahan (SP) Sixty Day IL - Triceps. R. Palacios (LF) Ten Day IL - Knee. A. Faedo (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. N. Lavender (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Detroit Tigers:  S. Guenther (RP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. S. Gipson-Long (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Neck. K. Carpenter (RF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Jobe (SP) Sixty Day IL - Flexor. J. Foley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. A. Cobb (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. T. Madden (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. J. Urquidy (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Lange (RP) Sixty Day IL - Lat.

“Credit Joe Boyle. For the most part, the way the game at that point [was] when he came out, we were feeling pretty good that we were gonna have to go to the bullpen that much. We ended up needing to, because of the way they tied it up and everything. But if we're going to bank seven, eight innings from those two, that helps a lot.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the Tigers in their game on Monday.

“Because he’s playing somewhere different every day, you can get lost a little bit. What does he bring to the table? Everything. And I’m proud of him for how he’s methodically gone through this -- in and out of the lineup, and then in the lineup a lot -- and maintained his discipline at the plate. He’s taking care of himself. He’s opportunistic on the bases. Contribute to a win every day, and he’s going to get the recognition that he deserves. I do know that I get asked about him a lot from the other side, which is the biggest praise you can get internally, inside the game.” - A.J. Hinch on Zach McKinstry after his team’s win against the Rays in their game on Monday.

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Jake Mangum (S) LF

José Caballero (R) 2B

Chandler Simpson (L) CF

Taylor Walls (S) SS

Danny Jansen (R) C

Colt Keith (L) DH

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B

Zach McKinstry (L) RF

Riley Greene (L) LF

Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B

Dillon Dingler (R) C

Parker Meadows (L) CF

Trey Sweeney (L) SS

Javier Báez (R) 3B

Batting Average:  Richie Palacios (.750)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (99)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (21)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (57)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (31)

Wins:  Shane Baz (8)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (15)

ERA:  Joe Boyle (0.00)

Batting Average:  Brewer Hicklen (.667)

Hits:  Riley Greene (99)

Home Runs:  Riley Greene (22)

RBI:  Riley Greene (72)

Stolen Bases:  Zach McKinstry (11)

Wins:  Tarik Skubal (10)

Saves:  Will Vest (14)

ERA:  Matt Gage (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (11th season)

Detroit Tigers: A.J. Hinch (5th season)