Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/31/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (-130) Chicago (+110)

The Chicago Cubs (23-30) are welcoming the Tampa Bay Rays (39-17) at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. The odds on this game have the Rays at -130 and the Cubs are at +110. The total is 8.5. The men taking the mound will be Zach Eflin and Justin Steele.

As a squad, the Tampa Bay Rays are notching 6.0 runs per game, which ranks them 2nd in MLB. They have accounted for 335 runs and have an on-base percentage of .344. The Rays have compiled 102 doubles as a team and have hit 101 balls out of the park. They have 322 RBI's and 511 hits on the season, and their average at the plate sits at .270. Tampa Bay has a slugging rate of .493 and have been called out on strikes 468 times, while taking a walk on 188 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.68 and the pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.21. Rays pitchers have conceded 59 home runs and also 216 runs in total (6th in the league). Tampa Bay has given up 429 base hits (7.8 per 9 innings) in addition to 206 earned runs. The Rays have an earned run average of 3.73 on the year (6th in baseball), and they have rung up 467 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 174 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.14 as a team so far this season.

The Rays have dispatched 181 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The relief pitchers have inherited 64 base runners this season with 32.8% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have compiled 16 saves on the year and have blown 11 of 27 save opportunities. The Rays relievers have accumulated a save rate of 59.3% and has come into the game in 54 save situations. The relief pitchers have recorded 27 holds on the year (21st in the league). Rays relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 41 times in addition to having 50 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Tampa Bay Rays have accumulated 1,491 putouts on the year, as well as 534 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .990 which is 4th in the majors, and have accumulated 47 double plays. The Rays have converted 71.6% of balls in play into outs out of their 4,473 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 1st in the majors.

Eflin has taken the mound for 713 innings and has racked up 604 punch outs during his career. His ERA is 4.39 (348 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.274. He has surrendered 742 hits (9.4 hits per nine innings) and has 167 walks. Eflin (43-46 record in his career) holds a FIP of 4.32 and he has gone up against 3,016 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues.

The Cubs have a team slugging % of .415 and they earn 4.58 runs per game (14th in the league). They have recorded 81 doubles, while walking 203 times and notching 243 runs. Chicago has compiled 65 home runs this season as well as 235 RBIs. They have struck out on 488 occasions (8th in the league) and have accounted for 460 hits. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with a team on-base percentage of .333 as well as a batting average of .255 this season.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.273 and have a FIP of 3.95 as a staff on the campaign. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (446 strikeouts vs 160 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 11th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 437. They have given up 51 home runs and they concede 4.57 runs per 9 innings (14th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 238 runs for the season and come in with a team ERA of 4.30 (224 earned runs surrendered).

Chicago has had bullpen pitchers enter the game in 11 save opportunities and they have come away with 6 saves. They are ranked 24th in the league with a save percentage of 54.5%, and they have sent 169 relievers onto the diamond this season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 38 times in high leverage situations in addition to 43 occasions with runners on base. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 25.7% out of their 70 inherited runners. With 34 save situations, the Cubs have earned 22 holds and 5 blown saves.

In their 4,221 innings on the field, the Cubs have earned a efficiency on defense of 68.9% (19th in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 54 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .987 (14th in MLB). The Cubs have recorded 484 assists, 25 errors and have accumulated 1,407 putouts for the season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Steele has allowed 217 base hits while earning 242 punch outs in 241 frames. He has conceded a total of 89 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.286 and a FIP of 3.7. His K/BB ratio is 2.60 and he has faced 1,022 opposing batters in his career. Steele (14-13 career mark) has earned a 3.32 earned run average while allowing 8.1 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-130)

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