Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
The Los Angeles Dodgers (97-54) are close to clinching home-field advantage in the National League, leading the Atlanta Braves by four games with 11 games remaining. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays (89-62) lead the Cleveland Indians by 1.5 games in the race for the second Wild Card berth in the American League.
The Rays next face the Dodgers, starting on Tuesday in a key Interleague series, sitting as small +106 road underdogs (bet $100 to win $106) on the MLB odds for the opener at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Los Angeles is listed as a -126 home favorite (bet $126 to win $100) at online betting sites.
Rays at Dodgers | OddsShark Matchup Report
After these teams square off for two games at Chavez Ravine, they could end up meeting again in the World Series. That matchup seems like a long shot right now though considering Tampa Bay would need to win its Wild Card Game if the team makes the postseason and then get past the Houston Astros or New York Yankees just to get to the AL Championship Series.
The Dodgers are currently trailing the Astros and Yankees by one game for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Los Angeles is continuing to rest its top starting pitchers, giving Caleb Ferguson (1-2, 5.13 ERA) the ball off of five scoreless appearances in his past six outings. The start is only Ferguson’s second of the season.
Ross Stripling was scheduled to start but has been moved to the bullpen to prepare for his role in October.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers will have to face reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (6-7, 4.28 ERA) in his first start following minor elbow surgery back in July.
The Rays had won four straight starts with Snell on the mound before he was injured, and they will need him to pitch well down the stretch if they want to make the postseason. However, he has struggled away from home in 2019, going 2-4 with a 5.98 ERA in 10 road starts.
Tampa Bay has enjoyed some recent success against NL opponents, going 14-5 in its last 19 games dating back to August 29 of last year, according to the OddsShark MLB Database. Los Angeles has not fared nearly as well, posting a 9-13 mark in its previous 22 meetings with AL foes going back to the 2018 World Series.
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