2020 MLB Tampa Bay Rays World Series Odds & Picks

The Small Market Rays
Have High Hopes in 2020

Tampa Bay continues to be the small market franchise that could.

Despite a miniscule payroll compared to division rivals New York and Boston, the Rays have won 90 or more games in seven of the last 12 years. Their front office and scouting departments have been the envy of the league over the last decade, and that has Tampa Bay poised to return to the postseason in 2020.

2020 Tampa Bay Rays World Series
Betting Online Odds at FanDuel: +1800

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+


2020 Tampa Bay Rays
Season World Series Odds Overview

The Rays have the same odds to win the World Series as the reigning champions, the Washington Nationals, at FanDuel. Tampa Bay is 18-1 to win the World Series after taking the Houston Astros to a decisive fifth game in last season’s ALDS, and the Rays could allow the fewest runs in the league in 2020 given their strong defense and excellent pitching.

American League East

The days of Tampa Bay being a perennial bottom-feeder in the AL East are over. The Rays are now constantly jockeying with the Yankees and Red Sox for supremacy in the division, and they have the second-lowest odds to win the AL East at FanDuel. There is a clear separation between all teams in this division according to the oddsmakers with the projected finishing order being: New York, Tampa, Boston, Toronto, and Baltimore.

On the Hill

Charlie Morton has rejuvenated his career since moving from the NL to the AL at the end of the 2016 season. Morton was one of the arms that led the Astros to the 2017 World Series, and he nearly led the Rays to an upset over his former team in last year’s playoffs. He has posted a 10.0 K/9 or higher in each of the last three seasons, and he led the majors in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings.

Blake Snell couldn’t capitalize on his Cy Young season in 2018. Snell missed two months due to an injury in his pitching elbow, and he could only manage a 6-8 record with a 4.29 ERA. His walk rate, hit rate, and home run rate all shot up, but on an encouraging note, his K/9 went from 11.0 in 2018 to 12.4 in 2019. The young left-hander still has three elite pitches (fastball, changeup, and curveball), so he should be in line for a bounce-back season.

The Chris Archer trade might go down as the most lopsided trade of the last decade. Pittsburgh dealt Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow to Tampa Bay for the pitcher, and both players look like future stars. Glasnow only started 12 games last season, but he was excellent in limited action. He posted a 1.78 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP in 60.2 innings of work, striking out 76 batters. Glasnow finally discovered his control after allowing 97 walks in 73.2 innings of work in 2017 and 2018, and that has allowed the 6’8 rightie to shine.

At the Plate

Meadows is the most promising hitter in the lineup. He finished last season with a .922 OPS, leading the team in most major offensive categories. He has the tools to become a 30/30 player at the age of 26, and he should become more disciplined at the plate as he comes into his own. The only concerns are due to injury, as he dealt with a myriad of injuries during his time in the minors.

Brandon Lowe is the other bat that the Rays will really be counting on in 2020. Lowe hit .270 with 17 home runs last year in 82 games, as he missed most of the last half of the season with a quad injury. Like most of Tampa Bay’s lineup, he fared very well against right-handed pitchers, but he was only mediocre against southpaws. If he can get his numbers up against lefties, he will be a force.

It’s only a matter of time before wunderkind Wander Franco makes his major league debut. Franco is the No. 1 prospect in baseball according to most publications, and he could break into the big leagues as a teenager. He has raked at all three of his minor league stops with a triple slash of .336/.405/.523 over the last two years, and Tampa Bay is desperate for some more run production.

2020 Tampa Bay Rays World Series Projection

As always, the Rays are a very intriguing team. They have three pitchers that can carry them to wins in the postseason, and the hitting is good enough to challenge for a World Series title. Another bat would be huge for Tampa Bay and could be the difference between the Rays being one and done in the playoffs or making it to the World Series.

2020 Tampa Bay Rays World Series Free Pick:
Not a bad play at 18-1

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+