Tampa Bay Rays 2010 Baseball Predictions: The Tampa Bay Rays shocked the baseball world in 2008, winning the American League East with a 97-65 record and then advancing onto the World Series. The team, however, crashed back to earth last season with a still respectable 84-78 mark, which was good enough for third place in the division. 2010 Baseball Predictions at SPORTSBETTING.com have the Rays listed at +500 Moneyline odds to return to the top of the AL East this season and +1000 odds to duplicate their 2008 AL Pennant.
Tampa Bay was one of the best offensive teams in the league last year and none of their off-season moves indicate that 
that will change this season. The Rays have speed in Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton and ample amounts of power in guys like Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, Ben Zobrist, and Pat Burrell.
Their lineup, as presently constructed, will strike fear in a good number of opposing pitchers and should keep them ranked in the top 10 of most hitting stats, just as it did in 2008 and 2009.
The Rays starting rotation is also a quality group, particularly if David Price develops into the kind of consistent force that many expect him to. James Shields, Matt Garza, and Jeff Niemann will, most likely, sit ahead of Price in the order, giving him a chance to really do some damage against fellow four starters. Last year Tampa Bay's starters ranked 15th in the league with a 4.54 ERA. That number should drop as Price becomes more consistent and Shields returns to the threes (4.14 ERA last year).
The Rays bolstered an already good bullpen by adding closer Rafael Soriano from the Braves. J.P. Howell was a great setup man/part-time closer last year and he should thirve in that role again. Grant Balfour, Lance Cormier, Randy Choate, and Dan Wheeler fill out the rest of the spots, giving Tampa Bay one of the better relief staffs in the game.
2010 Baseball Predictions: 2nd Place AL East. Pitching appears to be just short of the Yankees as does the hitting, but both are top notch, and should power this team to 87 plus wins.
SPORTSBETTING.com Tampa Bay Rays 2010 Baseball Predictions:
Odds to Win 2010 World Series +1800
Odds to Win 2010 AL Pennant +1000
Odds to Win AL East Division +500
MLB Regular Season Wins: Over 87.5 (-115), Under 87.5 (-115)
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