In this intriguing inter-league series, the playoff contenders Rays and Giants collide at Oracle Park. The Rays' rookie right-hander, Ryan Walker, will be the opener for the Giants, going up against Tyler Glasnow from Tampa Bay.

MLB Betting Odds

Monday’s baseball betting market opened with Tampa and Glasnow as favorites at around -140 over San Francisco and Walker, setting the over/under at 7.5 runs. Both these figures have remained steady in the early betting action.

Team Analysis

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays managed to secure two out of three games at home against Cleveland over the weekend, missing out on a sweep due to a 9-2 defeat in Sunday's series finale. Earlier, they lost two of three games against St. Louis, but before that, they emerged victorious in two of three against Detroit. Their recent performance has been solid, winning 9 out of their last 15 games. With a current record of 71-49, the Rays share the second place in the American League standings with Texas, trailing Baltimore by three games.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants, on the other hand, faced challenges, losing two of three games at home against the Rangers, with a narrow victory of 3-2 in the series finale. Their performance in recent series has been unfavorable, losing all three. However, with a record of 63-55, the Giants maintain their position in second place in the NL wild-card standings.

Pitching Match-Up

San Francisco Giants - Ryan Walker

Walker will be making his ninth appearance as an "opener" this season. In his recent performance against Texas, he delivered a scoreless inning of relief. Over his last seven appearances, Walker allowed only one run and seven hits in 10 2/3 innings, complemented by three walks and nine strikeouts. The Giants have secured a 7-1 record when Walker starts, indicating the effectiveness of this strategy.

Tampa Bay Rays - Tyler Glasnow

Glasnow, with a record of 4/4 on quality starts since the All-Star break, is set to make an appearance after a two-week absence due to a tight back. In his last outing against the Yankees, he allowed only one run and three hits across seven innings, contributing to a 5-1 victory for the Rays. Over his last four starts, Glasnow gave up six runs, with only five being earned, and 17 hits across 27 innings, alongside six walks and 32 strikeouts. Tampa Bay has a record of 7-5 with Glasnow this season, including a 3-1 record in his recent four starts.

Hitting and Bullpen Analysis

Hitting Stats

The Rays boast a solid .255 batting average this season, supported by a .327 team OBP and an impressive .444 team slugging percentage. On the other hand, the Giants are slashing .236/.318/.396 against right-handed pitching. However, the Giants' offense has faced challenges, scoring three runs or less in six of their last nine games.

Bullpen Performance

The Giants' bullpen, which will play a significant role in Monday night's game, stands out with an ERA of 3.61, a remarkable 1.20 WHIP, and an impressive 3.16 K/BB ratio. These strong bullpen statistics position the Giants' unit among the top in the league. The Rays' bullpen, with an ERA of 4.03, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 2.44 K/BB ratio, also performs reasonably well.

MLB Betting Trends and Totals Report

MLB Betting Trends

The Rays exhibit a road record of 31-27 this season and maintain a strong record of 57-42 against right-handed starters. San Francisco, performing at home, holds a record of 34-26 and stands at 44-42 against right-handed starters.

Totals Report

With a record of 62-54, the overs dominate in Rays games this season. In Giants games, the unders prevail with a record of 66-49. Notably, Oracle Park has seen the unders succeed with a record of 36-22 this season.