The Tampa Bay Rays’ regular season is right around the corner, so you know what time it is. DraftKings has their win total for this upcoming season at 81.5. On paper, this team has the offensive power and pitching staff to be a team that is above .500. They will be an interesting team because their home stadium, Tropicana Field’s roof, was decimated by Hurricane Milton. However, this team can still rally around each other and build off their 80-82 2024 season. Let’s dive into this game and cook up a winning slip!
Tampa Bay Rays OVER 81.5 Wins (-115)
Recap of Last Season:
Last season was a subpar season for the Tampa Bay Rays based on the talent on this roster. With a record of 80-82 on the season, that was the first time that the Rays have finished under .500 since 2017. Yandy Diaz had a solid year with 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a batting average of .281. Brandon Lowe led the team in home runs with 21 and second in RBIs with 58, with a .244 batting average. Pitcher Taj Bradley was decent with a record of 8-11 on the season with 10 Ks per 9, an ERA of 4.11, and 154 total Ks.
Offseason Moves:
Regarding their offseason moves, their splash signing was bringing in 29-year-old shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Kim had a solid season for the San Diego Padres last season with a batting average of .233, 11 home runs, 27 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. He is also entering his 5th season in the MLB, which means there is still room for him to improve for a Tampa Bay Rays team that is in a tough division. The American League East is no joke this year. They have to contend with the Yankees, who will be great, Baltimore, who will be solid, and Boston, who added tons of talent.
Players to Watch:
Brandon Lowe is a key player to watch for this Tampa Bay Rays team. I expect a big season from him. He is primed to get back into that 20+ home run range and 60+ RBIs. Yandy Diaz is another one who must have a big season if the Rays want to take another step forward. He finished last season with a batting average of .281, 14 home runs, and 65 RBIs. With the loss of Randy Arozarena last season, their offense definitely took a hit. Overall, this team shouldn’t be any worse than .500.
In terms of pitchers, Taj Bradley is a fun pitcher to watch. He finished the season with a record of 8-11 with an ERA of 4.11, 10 Ks per 9, and a WHIP of 1.225. Ryan Pepiot needs to take a step forward as well. He ended the season with an 8-8 record in the 26 games he started. Pepiot ended the season with an ERA of 3.60, 9.8 Ks per 9, and a WHIP of 1.154. The Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching staff is more than capable of being competitive in a strong division.
Final Thoughts:
The Tampa Bay Rays will go over their season total of 81.5 wins this season. This pitching staff is too good, and this offense has the power to contend with the middle-of-the-pack teams in the MLB. Even without a home for this season, I can see this team and community rallying around Tampa and surprising many people this season. Thank you so much for making us here at Total Apex Media part of your day!
