Tampa Bay Rays at Cincinnati Reds 7/9/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Tampa Bay Rays play the second game of a three-game interleague series on the road Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. Tampa Bay is 45-37 following its 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. Corey Kluber threw six shutout innings for the Rays and Tampa Bay won each of the final two games of their three-game series against Boston. Tampa Bay is second in the National League East, 14 ½ games behind first place New York.

Yandy Diaz is batting .295 and the third baseman has a team-high .412 on-base percentage. Second baseman Isaac Paredes is the leader in home runs with 13, while left fielder Randy Arozarena is the leader in RBIs with 39 and hits with 79. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays will send Drew Rasmussen to the mound. The right-hander is 5-3 with a 3.30 ERA, 51 Ks and 18 BBs.

Cincinnati is 29-54 following its 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Jonathan India hit an RBI-single to put Cincinnati ahead for good and Brandon Drury drove in two runs with a triple as the Reds split a doubleheader with Pittsburgh after losing the opener 4-2.  Cincinnati is last in the National League Central, 17 ½ games behind first place Milwaukee.

Shortstop Kyle Farmer is batting .271 to lead Cincinnati, while left fielder Tommy Pham is the leader in on-base percentage .338. Third baseman Brandon Drury has 17 home runs, 47 RBIs and 74 hits to lead Cincinnati in each category. On Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds will send Hunter Greene to the mound. The right-hander is 3-10 with a 6.01 ERA, 98 Ks and 33 BBs.