The San Diego Padres (34-36) host the Tampa Bay Rays (51-23) at Petco Park on Sunday with the three-game Interleague series in the balance. The Padres evened the series 1-1 after winning 2-0 on Saturday.
Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings – striking out 12 – to get the win, and Josh Hader earned his 17th save with a scoreless ninth. Ha-Seong Kim went 1 for 3 with one run in the win. Yandy Diaz was 1 for 3 with a double for the Rays.
ON THE MOUND
Yonny Chirinos (3-1, 2.35 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay. The righty threw 3.2 scoreless innings in relief in his last appearance, a 2-1 home defeat against the Athletics on Tuesday. He gave up two hits while striking out two and walking one.
For San Diego, RHP Joe Musgrove (4-2, 4.37 ERA) gets the start. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Rays. In his last start on Tuesday, Musgrove got the win at home against the Guardians.
He threw six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking one in the 6-3 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has averaged only 3.4 runs a game, down from their season average of 5.6, while slashing worse across the board (.242/.306/.400). Against righties like Musgrove this season, the Rays have a .793 OPS, highest in MLB.
Diaz is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .946 OPS in 176 at-bats. San Diego is averaging only 4.2 runs per game in the last five, consistent with their season average.
The Padres have a .688 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .948 OPS over 160 at-bats, Juan Soto has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Tampa Bay is 20-16 away from home in 2023, scoring 5.3 runs per game while allowing 3.7 runs. San Diego has gone 18-20 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.1 runs per game while surrendering 3.7. In eight games between the teams at Petco Park, Tampa Bay is 6-2 with an average scoreline of 5.4-3.6.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rays lead the AL East by six games over the Orioles. The Padres are fourth in the NL West, eight games behind the Diamondbacks.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
