Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves prediction, MLB picks for 06/16/2024, best bets and odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Atlanta Braves

Date: Sunday June 16, 2024

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia

TV: Bally Sports South

It is at Truist Park that the Atlanta Braves (36-30) will meet the Tampa Bay Rays (33-36) on Sunday. Pitchers expected to start are Zach Eflin and Max Fried.

As a unit, the Tampa Bay Rays score 3.9 runs per outing, which ranks them 26th in the league. They have a total of 266 runs and hold an OBP of .305. The Rays compiled 100 two-baggers as a unit and knocked 53 balls out of the park. They have compiled 246 RBIs in addition to 534 hits during the season, while their plate average is .232. Tampa Bay has a .351 slugging percentage and has struck out 622 times, while drawing walks 212 times.

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The Rays hold a team ERA of 4.31 this year (24th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 598 batters. Rays pitchers have allowed 91 home runs in addition to 328 total runs (24th in the league). They have walked 192 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 4.21 as a team this season. Tampa Bay allowed 597 hits (8.6 in 9 innings) in addition to 299 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 3.11 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.27.

Rays bullpen pitchers entered the game with runners on 55 occasions in addition to having 99 appearances in high-leverage situations. Relievers recorded 41 catches on the season (11th in baseball). Rays relief pitchers have accumulated a 61.8% save percentage and have entered the game in 77 save situations. They have made 21 saves this season and missed 13 of their 34 chances to save the game. The relievers inherited 78 baserunners for the year, 32.1% of whom crossed the plate. The Rays sent 230 relief pitchers to the hill during the season.

The Rays have converted 69.6 percent of batted balls in play into outs over their 5,613 innings, which ranks 17th in the majors. The Tampa Bay Rays have collected 1,871 outs to this point in the season, along with 523 assists and 34 errors. Their fielding percentage remains at .986, which ranks 12th in professional baseball, and they have turned in 46 double plays.

Eflin took the mound for 904 innings and had 788 strikeouts during his professional baseball career. Eflin (career win-loss record 55-57) has a 4.21 FIP while facing 3,793 opposing batters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.27 (429 ER allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.234. He gave up 927 hits (9.2 hits per nine innings) with 188 free passes.

The Atlanta Braves have accumulated an on-base percentage of .309 as well as a team batting average of .243 for the year. They were called out 573 times (14th in baseball) and had a total of 545 hits. Atlanta has hit 66 long balls this year along with 273 RBIs. The Braves hold a .397 slugging percentage and earn 4.35 runs per game (14th in baseball). They recorded 132 doubles, while walking 192 and earning 287 runs.

Atlanta’s pitching staff has given up 259 runs so far this season and comes in with a team ERA of 3.69 (240 earned runs given up). They have allowed 60 home runs and are giving up 3.98 runs per 9 innings (7th in MLB). The Braves have a team WHIP of 1.227 in addition to having a team FIP of 3.62 for the season. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 8.80 (575 strikeouts to 189 walks). They are 8th in MLB as a team in total hits allowed with 529.

Atlanta’s bullpen pitchers hold an inherited scoring percentage of 32.8% on their 58 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers went up the hill 62 times in high-leverage situations and also 44 times with baserunners. With 62 save situations, the Braves totaled 32 catches and 11 blown saves. They sit 14th in MLB with a 63.3% save rate and have sent 197 bullpen pitchers to the diamond for the year. Atlanta asked bullpen pitchers to take the mound on 30 save opportunities and they made 19 saves.

The Atlanta Braves have turned 54 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .987 (2nd in professional baseball). The Braves have accumulated 605 assists, 30 errors and 1,755 putouts so far this season. In 5,265 innings on the field, the Braves have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.3% (22nd in professional baseball).

Fried (68-29 in his career) had a 3.05 ERA while allowing 8.0 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.60 and he has faced 3,213 batters so far in his MLB career. He allowed 267 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.154 and a FIP of 3.0. So far in his career, Fried has allowed 696 hits while collecting 767 K’s in 788 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Josh Schonwald’s choice: take Tampa Bay

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