On the morning of July 28, 2024, the Cincinnati Reds will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field with the first pitch scheduled for 11:35 am under the likelihood of light rain.

The Reds will start pitcher Hunter Greene, who holds an impressive ERA of 3.145. Opposing him on the mound for the Rays will be Shawn Armstrong, who has struggled somewhat with an ERA of 5.642. As the season unfolds, the Reds find themselves 11th in the NL Central with a record of 50-54, showing a recent form with 5 wins in their last 10 games despite a current losing streak of one game. Their performance includes 25 home wins against 28 losses and a closely matched 25-26 record on the road. When comparing day and night games, the Reds have won 20 during the day versus 30 at night. They’ve scored 459 runs while allowing 423.

On the other side, the Tampa Bay Rays, positioned 9th in the AL East, have a slightly better record at 53-52. Their divisional struggles reflect 16 wins to 21 losses, ranking them 4th as well. Recently, they have shown improvement with 6 wins in their last 10 games and are currently on a winning streak. The Rays have balanced home and away records, with an equal 28-28 at home and a slightly better 25-24 on the road. Their day game performance is less favorable at 21 wins compared to 32 in night games. The Rays have managed to score 419 runs, but their defensive record is less impressive, having conceded 470.

As we consider the betting odds for this match, the point spread is set at 1.5, favoring the Reds slightly despite their lower standing, and the over-under is established at 7.5. This suggests expectations of moderate scoring from both sides. Bettors might lean towards Tampa Bay, favored with a money line of +107 at home, compared to Cincinnati’s -129 on the road. These odds present an intriguing option for bettors looking at the current momentum and home advantage of the Rays against the slightly better overall performance of the Reds.