The Yankees and Red Sox seem get all the attention in the American League East, but at the same time the Tampa Bay Rays keep hanging around, currently in third only 2-games off the pace of division leading New York. The Rays continue inter-league play when they host the Cincinnati Reds for three games at Tropicana Field Monday night (7:05 pm ET). Cincinnati is trying to remain a factor in the National League Central division, currently sharing third place with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but only trailing the leading Milwaukee Brewers by three games.
Tampa Bay is installed as a -175 MLB Odds favorite to win the series.
The Rays have won four games in a row and are 8-2 over their last 10 games. Against NL Central competition in inter-league play, the Rays are 5-1 sweeping the Astros on the road and taking two of three from Milwaukee at Miller Park.
Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will toe the rubber as starting pitcher for the Rays on Monday while the Reds counter with right-hander Mike Leake. With Hellickson and Leake the scheduled starters, oddsmakers at most off shore sports shops list the Rays as -140 MLB Odds favorites for the opener with a betting total (over/under) of 7 1/2. Reds backers will be getting +120 odds as a moneyline underdog.
Hellickson, who is 7-6 this season with a 3.09 ERA, was a loser last time out when he allowed two runs on three hits while walking four in six innings. He is 2-3 with a 2.52 ERA in five starts at the Trop this season.
Leake, who is 6-4 to go along with a 4.19 ERA, performed well last time out versus the Yankees but gave up a go-ahead two-run dinger to Joje Posada. No doubt, Leake wishes he could get that one back.
