Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Prop Pick: Will Nathan Eovaldi Struggle to Control Rays on Sunday?
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Prop Pick: Will Nathan Eovaldi Struggle to Control Rays on Sunday?
The Texas Rangers host the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, and I have a play for this game that I am really liking. Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound today for the Texas Rangers, and I like him to go over his walks line which is sitting at 1.5. Eovaldi is only over this line in six of his 14 starts this season, but the matchup is the main reason that I like this play as the Tampa Bay Rays are very disciplined at the plate.
Rays vs. Rangers DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: July 7, 2024
- Start Time: 2:35 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: MLB Extra Innings
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays have been walking at an extremely high rate as of late, especially against right-handed pitching. Six of the last seven starting right-handed pitchers have gone for more than three walks, which is crazy to see. Their entire projected lineup has great walk rates, which gives me a ton of confidence in this play despite the overall hit rate.
Each player has at least an 8% or higher walk rate against right-handed pitching with the following players each at 10%+: Brandon Lowe, Isaac Paredes, Josh Lowe, Richie Palacios, Ben Rortvedt, and Taylor Walls. Over the last 15 days, they rank first in walk rate against right-handed pitching and rank sixth overall on the season. Eovaldi ranks slightly below average in walk rate as he is in the 47th percentile for walk %. Eovaldi has two or more walks vs. the Tampa Bay Rays in four of his last five starts.
Eovaldi is also a guy who can go a lot of innings, which will give him more opportunities for walks. He is -160 odds on sportsbooks to go at least six innings, which if he is able to, I'd be surprised to see him to get us two walks. He has now gone at least seven innings in three of his last five starts.