Internet betting fans noticed that the Tampa Bay Rays placed two of their starting pitchers on the DL on Monday.Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis were placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Rays have been struggling a little bit lately vs. the online betting odds and losing two starting pitchers won’t help
Internet betting odds will still favor the Rays on most days but losing two starting pitchers is always cause for concern. Niemann has been a rock for Tampa Bay this season. He is 10-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 22 starts. Davis is 9-9 with a 4.45 ERA in 21 starts. The Rays called up pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Mike Ekstrom from Triple-A Durham. Hellickson got the start on Tuesday against the Tigers in Detroit.
The Rays were in Detroit early this week. They return home for a six-game home stand vs. the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. That would seem to be good news vs. the online betting odds but the Orioles are not a team that anyone wants to play right now. They are sizzling with new manager Buck Showalter. The Rangers are in first place in the American League West so they are also not a team that will be easy to beat. The Rays really need Niemann and Davis to come back soon. Tampa is in second place in the American League East but the Boston Red Sox are within striking range. It is likely that the second place team in the American League East will get the Wild Card so Tampa needs to stay ahead of Boston. The Rays will host the Red Sox late this month in a key series and they are hoping that Niemann and Davis are both back before that time.
The Rays have had one of the best pitching staffs in the league. They have been in the top five in ERA for much of the season. With two of their starters out, it will be important for the offense to pick up the slack in the next two weeks. The Rays are third in the league in runs scored so they do have the potential to score some runs and still win games vs. the Internet betting baseball odds.