Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction: Can Tampa Bay Bounce Back Against Detroit?

Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction: Get the latest Tampa Bay vs Detroit analysis, starting pitchers, trends, lineups, and best MLB bets for Aug. 24.

The Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction for Monday, August 24, 2026, leans toward Detroit Tigers moneyline, with Keider Montero and home-field advantage giving Detroit a slight edge despite both teams entering the series in poor form. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last seven games and has gone 0-9 against the spread over its last nine, while Detroit has dropped six of its last seven.

The biggest reason to consider Detroit is the pitching matchup. Drew Rasmussen has been excellent for Tampa Bay with a 3.01 ERA and 138 strikeouts, but Montero has also been reliable, posting a 3.30 ERA and .209 opponent batting average. Detroit also swept Tampa Bay in their three-game series earlier this season, winning 7-2, 8-0 and 10-9.

Best Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction: Tigers moneyline
Projected Score: Tigers 5, Rays 4
Best Alternative: Over, if the total is posted at 8 runs or lower
Confidence: Moderate

Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction: Game Information

The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Detroit Tigers for the first game of a three-game series on Monday, August 24.

Teams: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers

Date: Monday, August 24, 2026

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Location: Detroit

Rays Starting Pitcher: Drew Rasmussen

Tigers Starting Pitcher: Keider Montero

TV: Fox Sports 1, DSN and Rays.TV

Series: Rays @ Tigers

The two teams will play again Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET before finishing the series Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. ET.

Table of Contents

Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction

Rays vs Tigers Head-to-Head

Starting Pitching Analysis

Rays Offensive Outlook

Tigers Offensive Outlook

Recent Form

Moneyline Betting Analysis

Runline Betting Analysis

Over/Under Betting Analysis

Best Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction

Frequently Asked Questions

Rays vs Tigers Head-to-Head

Recent head-to-head results strongly favor Detroit.

The Tigers swept the Rays in three games at Tampa Bay from June 1-3, 2026. Detroit won 10-9, 8-0 and 7-2, producing a combined 25 runs in the series while limiting Tampa Bay to 11.

That sweep is particularly important when evaluating this Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction because Detroit’s pitching staff completely controlled two of the three games. The 8-0 victory on June 2 was especially convincing, while the 7-2 win on June 3 also came against a Tampa Bay team that entered that series as the favorite.

The previous season produced a more competitive matchup, but Detroit still won three of four games between the teams in June and July 2025. The Rays did win 7-3 on July 9, but Detroit won the previous two games of that series.

Across the last 10 meetings supplied in the matchup data, Detroit has won seven games, while Tampa Bay has won three.

That historical trend gives the Tigers an important advantage heading into Monday.

Starting Pitching Analysis

Drew Rasmussen Gives Tampa Bay a Major Advantage

Rasmussen is the biggest reason not to automatically back Detroit.

The Tampa Bay right-hander enters Monday with a 13-5 record, 3.01 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 134.1 innings. Opponents are hitting only .206 against him.

Those numbers make Rasmussen one of the strongest pitchers involved in this matchup.

He has also produced substantially better results than Tampa Bay’s other listed starters. His 3.01 ERA is supported by 102 earned runs allowed? More specifically, the supplied pitching line lists 47 home runs and 45 earned runs over 134.1 innings, alongside 138 strikeouts and only 25 walks.

The strikeout-to-walk profile is particularly attractive for bettors. Rasmussen has generated plenty of strikeouts while limiting free passes.

If Tampa Bay is going to win Monday, Rasmussen is likely to be the primary reason.

Keider Montero Has Been Excellent for Detroit

Montero counters with a strong season of his own.

The Tigers starter is 9-8 with a 3.30 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 133.2 innings. His opponent batting average is just .209, which is only slightly higher than Rasmussen’s .206 mark.

Montero has also allowed considerably fewer runs than several other pitchers in Detroit’s rotation.

The pitching matchup is therefore much closer than the teams’ recent records might suggest.

Rasmussen has the statistical edge, particularly in wins, ERA and strikeouts, but Montero’s .209 opponent average demonstrates that Detroit is not sending an easy target to the mound.

Pitching Edge: Rays

If evaluating only the starting pitchers, Tampa Bay gets the advantage.

Rasmussen’s 3.01 ERA, 13 wins and 138 strikeouts are difficult to overlook. The Rays have a legitimate ace-level arm starting the series.

However, the overall game prediction needs to account for offense, home field and recent performance as well.

Rays Offensive Outlook

Tampa Bay has several dangerous hitters capable of making the pitching matchup irrelevant.

Junior Caminero is the team’s biggest power threat. He has hit 35 home runs with 82 RBI, while posting a .276 batting average, .362 OBP and .533 slugging percentage.

He is joined by a productive top half of the lineup.

Yandy Diaz is batting .306 with a .374 OBP, while Jonathan Aranda is hitting .280. Catcher Liam Hicks has produced a .283 average, and Chandler Simpson is batting .308.

The projected lineup also gives Tampa Bay considerable speed. Simpson has 35 stolen bases, while Cedric Mullins has 18 and Taylor Walls has 19.

The Rays therefore have multiple ways to manufacture offense. They can rely on Caminero’s power, Diaz’s contact and on-base ability, or speed from the lower half of the lineup.

The biggest concern is recent production.

Tampa Bay has lost five of its last seven games, including consecutive losses to Baltimore entering this series. The Rays scored only five runs across their two most recent games against the Orioles.

That recent offensive inconsistency makes the Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction more difficult than the season-long offensive numbers suggest.

Tigers Offensive Outlook

Detroit’s lineup is also capable of producing runs, although the team has struggled recently.

Kevin McGonigle leads the Tigers in batting average among the listed regulars at .281 and has an impressive .383 OBP.

Dillon Dingler provides the biggest power threat among the listed Detroit hitters with 26 home runs and 82 RBI.

Spencer Torkelson has added 20 homers and 63 RBI, while Colt Keith is hitting .270. Gleyber Torres has a .262 average and .371 OBP.

The projected lineup also includes Eduardo Valencia, who has hit .344 in his limited 61 at-bat sample.

The biggest concern is Detroit’s recent offensive output. The Tigers have lost six of their last seven games and scored just four runs in their two most recent games against Kansas City.

However, Detroit’s lineup has already demonstrated that it can hit Tampa Bay pitching.

The Tigers scored 25 runs in the three-game June sweep of the Rays.

That history matters when projecting Monday’s matchup.

Recent Form

Rays

Tampa Bay’s last 10 games show a 3-7 record.

The Rays:

Lost 3-2 to Baltimore on August 22

Lost 5-3 to Baltimore on August 21

Lost 5-1 to Toronto on August 20

Beat Toronto 7-6 on August 19

Lost 10-5 to Toronto on August 18

Beat Baltimore 7-6 on August 17

Lost 10-2 to Baltimore on August 16

Lost 4-3 to Baltimore on August 15

Lost 6-5 to Baltimore on August 14

Beat Oakland 8-4 on August 12

The most notable betting trend is Tampa Bay’s 0-9 ATS record over its last nine games.

That is a major red flag for anyone considering the Rays against the runline.

Tigers

Detroit has also gone 3-7 across its last 10 games.

The Tigers lost their last two games to Kansas City, dropped three of four against Pittsburgh and lost three of four against the White Sox.

Their only wins in the supplied 10-game sample came against Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

So neither team enters Monday in particularly strong form.

That makes the starting-pitching matchup and home field more important.

Moneyline Betting Analysis

For a Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction focused on the moneyline, Detroit is the preferred side.

The Rays have been considerably more successful as moneyline favorites this season. Tampa Bay is 52-31 when favored, winning 62.7% of those games.

Detroit is 38-31 as a favorite, a 55.1% winning percentage.

However, the Tigers have also won 20 of 47 games as underdogs, giving them a 42.6% win rate when catching money.

Tampa Bay is 15-20 as an underdog.

The season-long numbers favor Tampa Bay, but Monday’s matchup is different because the Rays have been struggling and Detroit has home-field advantage.

The June head-to-head results also provide a strong argument for Detroit.

Moneyline pick: Tigers

Runline Betting Analysis

The runline is much more difficult.

Tampa Bay’s 0-9 ATS streak is the most obvious reason to avoid laying runs with the Rays. Even when the Rays are competitive, their recent results have not translated into profitable runline outcomes.

Detroit is also only 3-7 against the spread across its last 10 games based on the supplied results.

That means neither side presents a particularly attractive runline profile.

The best approach may be to avoid the runline unless the sportsbook offers a particularly favorable price.

If forced to choose, Detroit +1.5 would offer more protection than Detroit -1.5 because Rasmussen could keep the Rays close even if the Tigers ultimately win.

Runline lean: Tigers +1.5

Over/Under Betting Analysis

The total is another interesting component of this Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction.

The historical matchup has generally produced offense.

The June 2026 meetings finished:

Detroit 10, Tampa Bay 9

Detroit 8, Tampa Bay 0

Detroit 7, Tampa Bay 2

The first game went well over the total, while the final two stayed below their listed numbers.

The 2025 meetings were considerably more offensive. Three of those four games reached at least 10 combined runs.

However, Monday’s pitching matchup is significantly better than some of those historical games.

Rasmussen owns a 3.01 ERA and .206 opponent batting average. Montero has a 3.30 ERA and .209 opponent batting average.

Those numbers make an automatic Over difficult to justify.

At the same time, both teams have struggled recently, and Detroit has scored only four runs combined in its last two games.

Therefore, the total should depend heavily on the number offered.

At 8.5 or higher: Under becomes more attractive.

At 8 or lower: Over becomes a more appealing alternative.

Without a confirmed Monday total in the supplied information, the safest position is to avoid making the total the primary wager.

Best Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction

The best overall Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction is the Detroit Tigers moneyline.

The matchup is close because Tampa Bay has the better starting pitcher. Rasmussen’s 3.01 ERA and 138 strikeouts give the Rays a legitimate path to victory.

But Detroit has several factors working in its favor:

Home-field advantage

A 3-0 record against Tampa Bay in the June 2026 series

Seven wins in the last 10 supplied head-to-head meetings

A strong .209 opponent batting average from Montero

Tampa Bay’s 0-9 ATS streak

Tampa Bay’s 3-7 record over its last 10

Detroit’s proven ability to score against the Rays

The biggest counterargument is Rasmussen.

If the Rays’ ace pitches deep into the game and Tampa Bay’s top hitters get to Montero early, the Rays could absolutely win.

But for bettors looking for the side with the stronger combination of matchup factors, Detroit is the preferred choice.

Rays vs Tigers Prediction

Pick: Detroit Tigers moneyline

Projected Score: Detroit 5, Tampa Bay 4

Best Bet: Tigers ML

Secondary Lean: Tigers +1.5

Total Lean: Over 8 if the number is available at 8 or lower

Confidence: 6/10

Why the Tigers Can Beat the Rays

The strongest argument for Detroit is not simply its recent record. Both clubs are struggling.

Instead, it is the combination of home field, head-to-head dominance and a competent starting pitcher.

Detroit already demonstrated during the June series that it can neutralize Tampa Bay’s offense. The Tigers held the Rays to two runs in the first game and shut them out in the second.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s current 0-9 ATS streak indicates that backing the Rays to outperform the market has been particularly difficult.

The Tigers’ recent losing streak is concerning, but it also means the market could potentially undervalue Detroit if the price remains reasonable.

Why the Rays Can Still Win

Backing Detroit is not without risk.

Rasmussen is the best pitcher in Monday’s game based on the supplied numbers. He has 13 wins, a 3.01 ERA and 138 strikeouts compared with Montero’s 9 wins, 3.30 ERA and 89 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay also has more established offensive production at the top of the order.

Caminero has 35 home runs and 82 RBI, Diaz is batting .306, Aranda is hitting .280 and Simpson is at .308.

If those hitters capitalize on Montero’s mistakes, Tampa Bay can reverse its recent fortunes quickly.

For that reason, the Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction should be considered a moderate-confidence pick rather than a high-confidence wager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is favored in the Rays vs Tigers game?

The Detroit Tigers are the preferred side in this Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction because they are playing at home, have already swept Tampa Bay this season and have Keider Montero starting.

Who is pitching for the Rays?

Drew Rasmussen is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay. He enters with a 13-5 record, 3.01 ERA and 138 strikeouts.

Who is pitching for the Tigers?

Keider Montero is scheduled to start for Detroit. He is 9-8 with a 3.30 ERA and 89 strikeouts.

Who has the better starting pitcher?

Tampa Bay has the statistical edge with Rasmussen. His 3.01 ERA, .206 opponent batting average and 138 strikeouts are superior to Montero’s 3.30 ERA, .209 opponent average and 89 strikeouts.

Who won the most recent Rays vs Tigers series?

Detroit swept Tampa Bay in their three-game series from June 1-3, 2026. The Tigers won 10-9, 8-0 and 7-2.

What is the best Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction?

The best Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction is Detroit Tigers moneyline, with Detroit’s home-field advantage, recent head-to-head success and Montero’s strong season making them the preferred side.

Should you bet the Rays vs Tigers runline?

The runline is less attractive because both teams have poor recent ATS records. Tampa Bay has gone 0-9 ATS in its last nine games, making the Rays particularly difficult to back against the spread.

Is Rays vs Tigers a good Over/Under matchup?

It depends on the number. The teams have produced several high-scoring meetings historically, but Rasmussen and Montero both have ERAs around 3.00 and opponent batting averages around .200. Under 8.5 is preferable at a high number, while Over 8 becomes more interesting at a lower number.

What is the projected score for Rays vs Tigers?

The projected score for this Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction is Tigers 5, Rays 4.

Final Rays vs Tigers Betting Prediction

The Rays enter Detroit with the better starting pitcher on paper, but the broader matchup favors the Tigers. Tampa Bay has lost five of its last seven, has gone 0-9 ATS across its last nine and was swept by Detroit earlier this season. Detroit has also struggled recently, but its home-field advantage and strong history against Tampa Bay make the Tigers the preferred side.

Final Pick: Detroit Tigers moneyline

Projected Score: Tigers 5, Rays 4

For bettors looking beyond the moneyline, Tigers +1.5 offers additional protection, while the total is best approached according to the number posted.