Indeed, the Tampa Bay Rays never get massive support in the future market. But they draw their share of baseball betting odds support from bargain hunters and sharps. The public ignores them for the power brands such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Yet Tampa Bay consistently finishes ahead of those teams in the American League East. The Rays have made the playoffs for the last five seasons. Tampa Bay owns one American League pennant. However, they have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.
2024 Tampa Bay Rays
| Tampa Bay Rays World Series Championship | Odds |
|---|---|
| 2024 Tampa Bay Rays World Series Championship Odds | +2200 |
2024 Tampa Bay Rays Manager
Since 2015, Kevin Cash has been the Rays manager. He has produced five consecutive sportsbook playoff seasons and a 2020 AL pennant.
2024 Tampa Bay Rays Key Players
Number one starter Zac Eflin is coming off an impressive 2023 MLB odds campaign. In sum, the right-hander was 16-8 with a 3.50 earned run average and 1.02 WHIP for a career year.
Shortstop Brandon Lowe is a 2019 All-Star and had another productive 2023. Correlate that Low scored 58 runs with 21 home runs and 68 runs batted in with a .231 average and .771 OPS.
Meanwhile, 3B Isaac Paredes scored 71 runs with 24 doubles, 31 home runs, and 98 runs batted in with a .250 average and .840 OPS.
2024 Tampa Bay Rays Offseason Moves
Key offseason acquisitions: RHP Ryan Pepiot, OF Jonny DeLuca, INF José Caballero, OF Richie Palacios, RHP Phil Maton, RHP Chris Devenski (re-signed), and LHP Tyler Alexander
Key offseason departures: RHP Tyler Glasnow, OF Manuel Margot, OF/1B Luke Raley, RHP Robert Stephenson, RHP Andrew Kittredge, C Christian Bethancourt, and LHP Jake Diekman
Gamblers and observers saw Tampa Bay stare straight at its biggest need and get even worse in the offseason. But that was the move for Tampa Bay, which looked at a rotation crushed by elbow surgeries. Still, they increased the problem by dealing Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Certainly, Tampa Bay does more with less. Perhaps Zack Littell can be a rotation regular for 32 starts in the AL East. Maybe Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley are ready for steps forward. In contrast, Jeffrey Springs will be back by the second half of the season. Correlate he will supplement Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale at the top. It’s just this is the American League East. Hence, the Rays lack much margin for error.
A rotation on surer footing would have been cause to celebrate an offense that should be good. And it has the chance to take another leap forward with Junior Caminero and Curtis Mead knocking on the door. Overall, Tampa Bay ranks 27th for MLB payroll.
2023 Tampa Bay Rays Recap
Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays had a record of 99-63 and finished 2nd in the American League East Division. Offensively, Tampa Bay ranked 4th for runs scored, 3rd for batting average, 4th for OPS, 6th for home runs, and 4th for stolen bases. While defensively, Tampa Bay ranked 6th for earned run average, 1st for WHIP, 18th for strikeouts, 21st for quality starts, 9th for fewest errors, and 12th for bullpen ERA. Tampa Bay was +377 on the moneyline and +1147 on the run line.
Last season, the Rays again finished with a profit for the third time in four years. Tampa Bay was an exceptionally good value on the run line. Accordingly, the Rays are profitable, whereas other teams as successful would not be. That is because Tampa Bay does not attract much casual support, thus keeping its prices reasonable. Tampa Bay has little in the way of fan support or revenue but is managed exceptionally well.