The visiting Rays hope for a solid performance on Thursday as they look to steal a win at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers will rely on Drew Smyly to turn in a quality outing on the mound in this one, while Jeff Niemann will be his counterpart for the Rays. Drew Smyly is 0-0 this season, and Jeff Niemann is 0-0.



View Tampa Bay vs Detroit Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook MLB line for this matchup, Detroit sat as -110 favorites. The total was set at 9.

Power Rankings:
The MLB Power Rankings at Odds Shark show the American League's No. 2-rated Rays taking on the American League's No. 1-rated Tigers in this contest.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Detroit's No. 1 ranked American League offense (6.6 runs per game) against a Rays defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 6 in the American League at 3.8 runs allowed per game. The Tigers have been averaging 10.6 hits per game, more than the Rays have managed so far this season (8.4 hits on average).

Detroit owns the American League's No. 8 defense, allowing 4 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Tampa Bay's American League No. 6-rated defense.

The Rays were a 4-2 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against the Tigers. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Tampa Bay at +157 on the moneyline, while the total score (6) was good news for UNDER bettors. The Rays enjoyed a 4-2 victory at the expense of the Tigers on Wednesday, with James Shields throwing 8 innings of 6-hit ball at Comerica Park.




Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Detroit are 5-5
After a win are 7-3

Detroit Tigers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Chi White Sox are 7-3
After playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After a loss are 9-1

A few Rays at Tigers trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Detroit
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games


Next up:
Tampa Bay at Boston, Friday, April 13
Detroit at Chi White Sox, Friday, April 13