Rays vs. Cubs prediction, odds: Best MLB picks, bets Tuesday

The Rays have spent the first two months of the season sitting atop the American League East standings.

Tampa Bay entered Monday with a winning percentage over .700 after taking two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend. 

The Cubs are going in the opposite direction.

Chicago is trying to get out of the cellar in the National League Central, but going 3-7 over its last 10 games coming into this series certainly won’t help. 

Rays vs. Cubs prediction

(8:05 p.m. ET.)

Not only are the Rays the much better team on paper, but they will also have a major pitching advantage Tuesday night.

Tampa Bay turns to the dominant Shane McLanahan (8-0, 1.97 ERA), while the Cubs counter with Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 6.23 ERA). 

How good has McLanahan been this season?

He’s only allowed more than two runs once in 11 starts.

Tampa Bay has won 10 of those games and covered the run line eight times. 

Hendricks returned from injury and made his first start in 11 months against the Mets on May 25.

It didn’t go well. Hendricks allowed six hits and five runs over 4 ¹/₃ innings in a 10-1 Mets victory.

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Things won’t get any easier against a Rays lineup that came into Monday ranked second in runs and first in average, on-base percentage, and home runs. 

With McLanahan rolling and Hendricks still getting back into a groove after almost a year off, I’ll back Tampa Bay to cover the run line on Tuesday.