MLB Monday: Padres Host the Rays

Rays are Red Hot Heading Into Face Padres

The San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays will square off on Monday Night in San Diego. The Rays are in the throes of another pennant race. The road has been kind to them and that is a good thing. The Padres look to throw a monkey wrench into the Rays plans starting tonight.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS San Diego; LINE: Padres -121; O/U: 8 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Diego Castillo (2-6, 3.50 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (7-6, 4.19)

The road continues to be kind to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have won seven straight away games. That is one shy of the team record set in July of 2014. They hold a 1-1/2-game lead over Oakland for the second American League wild-card spot. Tampa Bay is 12-6 against San Diego and have won the last seven meetings.

Ryan Yarbrough pitched into the ninth inning and Eric Sogard homered in Tampa Bay's 1-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday. The Rays' won for the 10th time their last 12 games. The Rays own the majors best road record at 38-22. Sogard continues to impress the team. He was acquired from Toronto last month and has reached base in a career-high 23 straight games. Sogard is ripping at a .341 clip over that stretch.

San Diego took three of four from Colorado over the weekend. They still remain 6-1/2 games back in the second National League wild card race. Francisco Mejia and Josh Naylor homered in Sunday's 8-3 loss. Rookie star Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-4 and saw his career-high 14-game hitting streak come to an end.

This, That, and a MLB Dart Throw

The Rays' Castillo is expected to serve as the team's opener Monday. It will be his first appearance since last Tuesday. He pitched a scoreless 10th inning against Toronto. He has posted a 6.05 ERA over his last 21 appearances. The kids 10 walks has a lot to do with that number. He does have 16 strikeouts over that stretch. Castillo made a strong impression early in the season with a 1.37 ERA in his first 24 appearances.

The Padres' Lucchesi received a no-decision on Wednesday. He allowed two runs on five hits, over 5-1/3 innings against Seattle. The kid with the mafioso name struggled early in the season. He has turned it around and has posted seven quality starts in his last 14 outings. Lucchesi has gone 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA over that stretch. He is facing Tampa Bay for the first time and owns a 2-1 record and 3.99 ERA in six career interleague starts.

Please Read Our Review of A+ Rated BetOnline Sportsook.

The Dart Throw: Rays 6, Padres 3

Rays and Padres MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Tampa Bay's last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 8 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing San Diego

San Diego Padres
San Diego is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
San Diego is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Diego's last 7 games
San Diego is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games at home
San Diego is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
San Diego is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Diego's last 7 games at home
San Diego is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Diego's last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay

Get a 50% Deposit Plus Other Perks at BetOnline Sportsbook