<p>The 42-38 Detroit Tigers will play their third game of a four game set versus the 33-46 Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida today. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at Tropicana Field at 4:10 PM ET on Saturday July 2, 2016.</p>
<p>In Game 2 of this four game series yesterday the Tigers beat the Rays 10-2. The Tigers scored 10 runs for the third straight game and second in this series racking up 14 hits. The Rays were never really in this registering just four hits and not putting any runs on the board until the bottom of the ninth.</p>
<p>The Tigers have won four in a row and they are in 3rd place in the AL Central 7.5 games back of the scorching Cleveland Indians, who have won 14 in a row. Detroit is led by their lineup, which ranks 7th in runs scored while their team ERA only ranks 24th. Detroit’s offense has been on fire as of late, as they have scored 37 runs in their four-game win streak and have scored 10 runs in each of their last three games.</p>
<p>The Rays are reeling losers of 14 of their last 16 games including losing the first two games of this series. They are in the basement of the AL East 14 games back of the Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay only ranks 24th in the Majors in runs scored and 20th in team ERA.</p>
<h2>
Pitching Match Up</h2>
<p>Detroit: Justin Verlander (7-6, 4.30 ERA)<br />
Tampa Bay: Blake Snell (1-2, 3.54 ERA)</p>
<p>Justin Verlander goes for the Tigers today and he was shelled in his last outing giving up eight earned runs in four innings in a 9-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The Tigers has won his previous four starts. Today is Verlander’s first start this season against the Rays and in his career against them he is 7-3 with a 3.49 ERA. The Tigers have won 10 of their 14 games facing the Rays with Verlander getting the start. Detroit is 1-5 in Verlander’s last 6 road starts against a team with a losing record.</p>
<p>Blake Snell gets the nod for the Rays and in his last outing he gave up four earned runs in five innings in a 13-7 win over the Boston Red Sox. The Rays had lost all three of his starts this season before his last outing. However, Snell’s last outing was his worst of the season giving up four earned runs, as in his other three starts he had given up a total of four earned runs.</p>
<h2>
Betting Angles</h2>
<ul>
<li>
The Tigers are 4-0 in their last 4 games against the Rays.</li>
<li>
In the last 5 games between these teams the Over record is 4-0-1.</li>
<li>
In the last 5 games between these teams in Tampa Bay the Over record is 3-1-1.</li>
<li>
This season the Rays are 17-23 at home and the Tigers are 19-22 on the road.</li>
</ul>
<h2>
STRAIGHT UP / OVER/UNDER / RUN LINE RECORDS</h2>
<p>Detroit Tigers: 42-38 SU / O/U 47-29 / Run Line W/L 46-34<br />
Tampa Bay Rays: 33-46 SU / O/U 37-37 / Run Line W/L 32-47</p>
<h2>
Detroit at Tampa Bay Key Betting Trends</h2>
<ul>
<li>
DET is 4-0 in their last 4 overall.</li>
<li>
DET is 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.</li>
<li>
DET has an Over record of 5-0 in their last 5 games.</li>
<li>
TB is 2-14 in their last 16 overall.</li>
<li>
TB is 2-7 in their last 9 home games.</li>
<li>
TB has an Over record of 6-1 in their last 7 games.</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Key Player Injuries</h2>
<p>TIGERS<br />
[P] 04/04/2016 - Jeff Ferrell 15-day DL (3/25) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 04/01/2016 - Angel Nesbitt 15-day DL (3/25) ( Ankle )<br />
[RF] 06/17/2016 - J.D. Martinez 15-day DL (6/17) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 06/21/2016 - Drew VerHagen 60-day DL (5/23) ( Shoulder )</p>
<p>RAYS<br />
[P] 06/02/2016 - Brad Boxberger 15-day DL (6/1) ( Oblique )<br />
[CF] 05/23/2016 - Kevin Kiermaier 15-day DL (5/22) ( Hand )<br />
[LF] 07/01/2016 - Desmond Jennings "?" Saturday vs. Detroit Tigers ( Hamstring )<br />
[P] 06/28/2016 - Alex Colome 15-day DL (6/19) ( Bicep )<br />
[CF] 06/21/2016 - Mike Mahtook 15-day DL (6/21) ( Hand )<br />
[2B] 06/21/2016 - Steve Pearce 15-day DL (6/21) ( Hamstring )<br />
[RF] 06/17/2016 - Steven Souza 15-day DL (6/15) ( Hip )<br />
[P] 04/10/2016 - Chase Whitley 60-day DL (3/25) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 04/01/2016 - Alex Cobb 60-day DL (3/25) ( Elbow )</p>