Padres vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 8/31/2024

Tropicana Field will play host to a Saturday afternoon MLB interleague clash between the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Padres (77-70) have won 40 of their 68 road games and are sitting in second place in the NL Wild Card standings. Last night, DH Manny Machado homered and drove in four runs to power San Diego to a 13-5 road triumph against Tampa Bay. 

Twenty-five year old righty Randy Vasquez (4-6 4.52 ERA) will head to the hill for the Padres in this contest. San Diego has won Vasquez’s last two starts and he has allowed five runs across his last 11 plus frames. 

The Tampa Bay Rays have dropped seven of their last 11 games and are running out of time to make a playoff push. During Friday’s home loss, talented Tampa Bay SP Taj Bradley (6-9) surrendered eight runs and recorded just seven outs. All-Star 1B Yandy Diaz hit a two-run blast for the Rays (66-68), who fell to 34-35 at home.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash will give the nod to talented right-hander Shane Baz (1-2 3.48 ERA) on Saturday. Last time out, Baza allowed just three hits across seven plus shutout innings during a 1-0 road victory against Oakland. 

San Diego OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (thigh) is taking live at-bats at the Padres training complex and hopes to return early next month. Through 134 games, San Diego ranks 8th in OPS and 9th in runs scored. For the season, Tampa Bay ranks 26th in OPS and 28th in runs scored. Take the Rays to win at home. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 5-3.