Rays vs. Brewers Prediction: Why Tampa Bay Can Steal Game 2 on the Road

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers meet Saturday for Game 2 at American Family Field in Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.

The Rays did a little late switch for Game 1, using RHP Nick Martinez, rather than RHP Drew Rasmussen. The Brewers got to Martinez for two runs in the bottom of the first inning to get the hungry Wisconsin fans at full throat. DH Christian Yelich delivered an RBI triple to drive in leadoff hitter OF Jackson Chourio, and C William Contreras then drove in Yelich with a single.

While it was looking like, perhaps, we’d have a high-scoring affair, the bottom of the first inning was the only frame we saw multiple runs.

Tampa Bay collected seven hits, with 1B Jonathan Aranda picking up three of those hits out of the two-hole. C Liam Hicks ended up with two RBI out of the fifth spot, although both runs came on groundouts. LF Chandler Simpson came up with a pair of singles in four at-bats.

Milwaukee was good for eight hits, though. Chourio was good for a pair of hits in four at-bats with a run scored and an RBI out of the leadoff spot, while Contreras finished 2 for 3 with a walk and the RBI. RF Sal Frelick went 1 for 3 with a stolen base, while 3B David Hamilton had a double in his two at-bats.

Now, the Rays have Rasmussen lined up to start in Game 2. The former Brewers player was traded to Tampa Bay back in 2021 in exchange for SS Willy Adames, who is now with San Francisco. The Brewers have nothing left to show for that trade, while the Rays have Rasmussen paying off big time.

Rasmussen worked against the Brewers in Milwaukee back on April 1, allowing one earned run – two runs – and three hits with a walk and eight strikeouts across five innings in a no-decision in the 8-2 loss.

Game 2 Betting Pick

The Brewers will turn to RHP Logan Henderson to start. He was absolute money this season at American Family Field, going 6-0 with a 1.84 ERA in eight regular-season home starts with just eight walks and 50 strikeouts across 44 IP. Teams hit just .169 against him in Milwaukee, too.

The Rays hitters have little experience against Henderson, with only Hicks and Cedric Mullins facing him. Both players are hitless in two at-bats with one strikeouts each.

We’re going to go UNDER 6.5 (-110) on the total in Game 2, as we could have another game similar to the series opener, which saw the five combined runs. The difference here is that we’re going to take the RAYS ML (+104) as short ‘dogs on the road. This is going to be a heck of a series, with well-pitched games and low scores, so buckle in.