The Tampa Bay Rays (60-63) and San Francisco Giants (59-63) play the second game of a 3-game series Saturday. First pitch from Oracle Park in San Francisco is set for 9:05 p.m ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Rays vs. Giants odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rays lead 1-0

The Rays rallied in the ninth inning to complete a 7-6 comeback win at the Giants Friday night, cashing as +100 underdogs with the Over (8) hitting. CF Chandler Simpson went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, while All-Star 3B Junior Caminero belted his 35th homer of the season. Tampa Bay has won 3 of its last 4 games.

The Giants suffered their sixth straight loss Friday, letting a 6-3 lead after 3 innings slip away. 2B Christian Koss went 2-for-2 with an RBI double, while SS Willy Adames delivered his 19th home run of the season. San Francisco has been outscored 39-11 during this 6-game losing streak.

Rays at Giants projected starters

RHP Adrian Houser vs. RHP Justin Verlander

Houser (6-4, 2.84 ERA) is making his 14th start. He has a 1.32 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 through 79 1/3 innings with the Chicago White Sox and the Rays.

Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K in 6-3 loss at Seattle Mariners Sunday2025 road stats: 1-4, 3.86 ERA (46 2/3 IP, 20 ER), 1.52 WHIP, 6.9 K/9 in 8 startsLast start vs. Giants: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K in 1-0 home victory June 28 with White SoxCareer vs. Giants: 2-0, 2.04 ERA (17 2/3 IP, 4 ER), 1.13 WHIP, 16 H, 4 BB, 13 K in 4 appearances (2 starts)

Verlander (1-9, 4.53 ERA) is making his 21st start. He has a 1.50 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 through 99 1/3 innings.

Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 5 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 8-0 home defeat against Washington Nationals Sunday2025 home stats: 0-6, 4.66 ERA (56 IP, 29 ER), 1.50 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 11 startsCareer vs. Rays (regular season): 10-5, 3.45 ERA (138 1/3 IP, 53 ER), 1.15 WHIP, 8.5 K/9 in 21 starts; last faced them in 2023

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Rays at Giants odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:25 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Rays +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Giants -130 (bet $130 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays+1.5 (-200) | Giants -1.5 (+165)Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)Rays at Giants picks and predictionsPrediction

Rays 5, Giants 4

BET RAYS (+110).

Momentum matters in baseball, and right now these 2 teams are headed in opposite directions. The Giants have dropped 6 straight, and only 1 of those losses — a 1-run defeat Friday — was close. The others have mostly been blowouts, and their offense has sputtered to a .203 team average over the last week. Even Friday’s early 6-3 lead slipped away, a demoralizing blow for a team desperate to turn things around.

Saturday’s matchup doesn’t make things easier for San Francisco with Verlander taking the mound. The veteran has just 1 win all season, is 0-6 at home and was shelled by the Nationals in his last outing.

The Rays counter with Houser, who hasn’t been lights-out since joining the club but is still a more reliable option right now. Tampa Bay ranks in the top 10 in MLB in road batting average (.245) and has been playing better baseball. With plus odds on the moneyline and the hotter team, the Rays look primed to grab the win.

PASS.

I’m not playing around with the run line, I like getting the team that has won 3 out of 4 with plus odds.

BET OVER 8 (-115).

The Over looks like the clear play here, especially with Verlander starting. It’s cashed in the last 3 meetings between these teams and in 4 of the Rays’ last 5 games. For the Giants, the Over is 2-1-1 in Verlander’s last 4 starts. With both recent trends and matchup history pointing that way, this game sets up for plenty of runs.

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