Tampa Bay Rays at Atlanta Braves 3/20/23

The Atlanta Braves host the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. The scheduled starters are Zach Eflin for the Rays and Kyle Wright for the Braves.

Eflin has started two Grapefruit League games this Spring Training and has a 3.38 ERA, 0.38 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. He appeared in 20 games with 13 starts for Philadelphia last season and compiled a 3-5 record, 4.04 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He struck out 65 and walked 15 in 75.2 innings.

Wright is making his first appearance in a game this spring. He started 30 games for the Braves in 2022, going 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He struck out 174 and walked 53 in 180.1 innings. Wright made his major-league debut in 2018, but last season was the first full big-league campaign for the 27-year-old righthander.

Atlanta went 101-61 last season, tying the New York Mets for first in the National League East. The Braves got the bye in the playoffs but won just one of four games against Philadelphia in the Divisional Series round. Tampa Bay had a record of 86-76 and earned a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. The Rays’ playoff run didn’t last long, however, as they were swept by the Guardians 2-0.

The Braves (11-9) are fourth in the Grapefruit League standings after winning three straight games. They have scored 120 runs and given up 115. The Rays (13-9) have won two games in a row and are third in the league. Tampa Bay has scored 126 runs and allowed 89. At home with Wright starting, the Braves are the choice in this one. Final Score Prediction, Atlanta Braves win 7-4.