Interleague action is on the MLB betting board again including the battle of Florida as the Marlins face the Rays. The Rays will be favored in baseball betting at home in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. MLB betting odds favor Tampa Bay on Friday with James Shields on the mound. Shields is 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA this season. He is expected to get the start on Friday and be opposed by Florida’s Nate Robertson who is 4-5 on the season with a 4.83 ERA. Robertson did not pitch well last time out as he gave up six runs in a loss to the Mets. He has not pitched well against Tampa Bay in his career as he is 0-4 with a 4.76 ERA. He is 0-2 in his career at Tropicana Field with a 4.63 ERA.
Shields lost his fourth game of the season last time out against Texas. He gave up six runs but only three of them were earned. Shields is 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA in six career starts against the Marlins. Shields has been very good at home in his career with a 26-16 record and a 3.44 ERA.
The Rays have really done well against the Marlins in MLB betting. They have won eight of the last ten games against Florida. Last year the Rays took five of the six games against the Marlins including all three in Tampa Bay. Two of those three games went under the total.
Florida has not really played that well on the road this season. They simply don’t hit as well on the road and their pitching is not as good. Florida has the talent to win games on the road but so far this season they have performed poorly. They are just average in hitting, ranking 14th in the league and they are no better in pitching at 16th in the league.
Tampa Bay has actually been better on the road this season than at home. The Rays still have a winning record at home though in baseball betting. The Rays are in the Top 5 in the league in both hitting and in earned run average. That is the reason they have the best record in the league. The Rays have one of the best starting rotations in the league and their lineup is loaded with talent.