Mets vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 5/4/2024

Rays vs Mets Prediction

On Saturday at Tropicana Field, the New York Mets face the Tampa Bay Rays in a battle of contrasting early season results. Both teams are looking to improve, with the Mets at 16-15 and the Rays slightly behind at 14-18. The pitching matchup features Luis Severino of the Mets against Zack Littell of the Rays, bringing an intriguing element to this clash. Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

The New York Mets come into this game with an average record but strong recent form, winning three of the last five games. The offense, while only ranked 18th in batting average at .237, has been powered by Pete Alonso, who leads the team with 8 home runs and a .445 slugging percentage. 

Despite injuries to key pitchers Drew Smith and Brooks Raley, the pitching staff maintains an impressive 3.43 ERA, ranking 7th in the league, largely thanks to Luis Severino’s stellar 35 innings pitched and a 1.06 WHIP. Defensively, the Mets lead the league in fewest home runs allowed, evidence of strong pitching depth which will be crucial against a Rays team struggling with power.

On the other side, the Tampa Bay Rays are enduring a tough season, evident from sitting in last place in the AL East. They’ve lost three of the most recent five games and pitching has been a significant concern with a team ERA of 4.63, one of the worst in the league. However, Isaac Paredes and José Caballero have been bright spots, with Paredes hitting a team-high .291 average and 9 home runs. 

Injuries have also plagued the Rays, affecting players like Chris Devenski and Josh Lowe, which might explain some of the struggles. The Rays need the defense to step up, especially a 28th ranking home runs allowed, if they are to compete in this series.