Cincinnati Reds vs Tampa Bay Rays Predictions, Odds & Starting Pitchers for Sunday (July 28)

• We’ve made our Reds vs Rays prediction for Sunday’s MLB matchup
• The Reds are narrow -125 road favorites, with the Rays at +105
• Read below for Reds vs Rays prediction, odds, and pitching matchup for July 28th

The Cincinnati Reds (50-53) will face off against the Tampa Bay Rays (52-52) in the final game of their three-game series at Tropicana Field on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:35 AM EST and the game will be televised on Bally Sports Sun.

The Reds are favored with a moneyline of -125, while the Rays are the underdogs at +105. The over/under for total runs scored is set at 7.5.

Let’s analyze the Sunday morning baseball odds as we make our Reds vs Rays prediction for July 28th.

Reds vs Rays Prediction Sunday

The Reds arrived in Tampa Bay riding a three-game winning streak, but the Rays cooled them off with a 4-0 shutout victory on Saturday to even the series. Cincinnati’s bats were quieted, managing only four hits in the contest.

Tampa Bay starter Zack Littell was brilliant, tossing seven scoreless innings. This came just a day after the Reds edged out a tight 3-2 win in Friday’s opener. Alex Jackson and Yandy Diaz provided the power for the Rays in game two, each hitting a home run.

For Sunday’s rubber match, the Reds will send ace Hunter Greene to the hill. Greene has been outstanding this season, posting a 3.14 ERA. The Rays have yet to announce their starting pitcher, but could opt for a bullpen game approach.

Hunter Greene made this look way too easy 😮 pic.twitter.com/B7T3wRL6JJ

— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2024

The Reds’ bullpen was a bright spot in game two, tossing four scoreless innings after starter Andrew Abbott struggled. If Greene can give them a quality start, the Reds will have a good chance to take the series.

Working against the Reds is the fact the Rays are a different animal at the Trop. Tampa Bay’s lineup also has a bit more thump, averaging 7.83 hits per game to Cincy’s 7.54. The Rays also have an uncanny knack for rising to the occasion as an underdog (25-25 record).

Despite Greene taking the round, I like the Rays to keep this close and cover the run line in their home barn. However, my top play is the “under” for what should be a low-scoring, tightly contested conclusion to the series.

Sunday Morning MLB Picks:

• Under 7.5 Runs (-120)
• Rays +1.5 (-155)

Reds vs Rays Odds

The oddsmakers have the Reds as -125 favorites, implying a 55.6% probability they will win the game. The Rays are +105 home underdogs, with a 48.5% implied probability of victory.

It’s a tad surprising to see the Reds laying lumber on the road against a .500 Rays squad. While both clubs have nearly identical records, the Rays have been the better bet as an underdog (25-25) relative to the Reds as a fave (25-24).

The tight moneyline tells us oddsmakers are expecting a competitive, coin-flip type affair. The odds ticked further in the Rays’ direction following their decisive shutout victory in game two.

Both clubs have been an under machine of late, each staying below the total in four of their last five contests. Hence, the moderate 7.5 run total. We’re banking on a low-scoring, every-run-matters kind of ballgame.

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Odds as of July 27, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the available DraftKings states for Sunday baseball. 

Cincinnati vs Tampa Bay Starting Pitchers

The Reds have a notable pitching advantage with Greene getting the nod. The 24-year-old hurler has been absolutely brilliant this season, spinning a 3.14 ERA. He’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last ten trips to the hill.

Greene will look to stifle a Rays lineup featuring some dangerous lumber in the form of Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz and Wander Franco. But the kid has swing-and-miss stuff that can overpower any lineup when he’s got his A-game – don’t be surprised if he racks up solid strikeout numbers.

The Rays are playing their starting pitcher close to the vest for this one. They may elect to go with a bullpen game, utilizing high-leverage arms like Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks. Tampa Bay has gotten solid work from starters like Shane Baz and Taj Bradley earlier in this series.

Whoever takes the bump for the Rays will have their work cut out for them against a Reds lineup boasting budding stars Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer.