Draftkings Sportsbook’s Best Betting Odds on 2020 Tampa Bay Rays

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Brandon Lowe (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

We examine the Tampa Bay Rays’ preseason betting odds and see if any stand out as potential moneymakers.

The Tampa Bay Rays are shooting for a third consecutive 90-win season in 2020 with World Series aspirations, but some oddsmakers may not see the Rays as a favorite. Today we take a look at the Draftkings Sportsbook to see if there’s a good bet the Rays are being overlooked.

*All odds were pulled from DraftKings Sportsbook

Odds explained: What does +450 mean? It means for every $100 you bet, your return would be $450. If the odds are +2000, a $100 bet would win you $2,000 if your wagered outcome came true.

For example, if you wagered $1,000 on the Rays winning the AL East in 2020 with +450 odds, and they won, you would win $4,500. If they lost, you would get nothing.

Disclaimer: Gambling involves the risk of losing money and Rays Colored Glasses, nor FanSided is responsible for your decision-making process. Today we are simply taking our thoughts on the Rays and applying them to the odds given by Draftkings.

Division Title Odds: +450

Despite winning 96 games last season, The Rays still find themselves with pretty low odds of coming out of the AL East with a division title. That’s due in large part to the presence of a tremendous Yankees team that also currently has the best odds at +350 of winning the World Series.

The Bronx Bombers are still the favorites, even after the Dodgers’ mega-deal that saw them land Mookie Betts and Rays’ legend David Price. While not impossible, it’s going to take a lot for this Rays team to supplant the guys in pinstripes in the AL East. We’ll see if they’re up to the challenge.

Consider that the Rays have lower odds of winning the division than the Yankees do of winning the World Series. Do you believe the Yankees are that much better than the Rays?

Hunter Renfroe (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Regular Season Win Total: Over/Under 91.5

With their win total set at 91.5, it seems oddsmakers are thinking the Rays may take a step back this year. A pretty solid offseason saw them add slugger Hunter Renfroe, the always dangerous José Martinez, and Japan’s cleanup hitter in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Yoshitomo Tsutsugo.

Don’t forget, just the other day USA Today had a panel of six experts prognosticate on win totals for each team in the league. Even prior to the Mookie Betts-David Price trade, they pegged the Rays as a good bet with 92 wins. Granted, they baked some of swirling trade winds into the numbers, but now that it is official you have to think it changes the outlook.

Tampa Bay Rays: Projected to Win 92 Games by USA Today

When you consider the additions this team has made on offense combined with 2019’s best team E.R.A., the bar may be set too low. The Rays have had minimal roster turnover and have improved their mid-level offense. They return breakout players like Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and Austin Meadows.

I’m going to hammer this into the ground, but the Rays have three frontline starting pitchers that could all feasibly vie for the 2020 AL Cy Young. With the Rays coming off of 96-wins and the team clearly taking steps to improve the roster, I like this number. Additionally, you have to consider after the Red Sox trade of Mookie Betts and David Price, this division could be a two-team race in 2020. The Orioles, Blue Jays, and Red Sox could be on the outside looking in this season.

World Series (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

League Championship Odds: +1000

If we break it down from there, the Rays currently sit with the fourth-best odds in the American League at taking home the pennant. To do so they’ll have to go through some tough clubs like their division-rival Yankees who had a big offseason with the acquisition of the most dominant pitcher in the league Gerrit Cole.

The Astros, despite the sign-stealing scandal this offseason, still boast an elite lineup and pitching staff that’s going to be a nightmare for opposing teams.

Then there’s the other surprise playoff team from last year who set the record for most home runs in a season, the Minnesota Twins (who also added former league MVP Josh Donaldson to an already formidable power-hitting lineup).

Last night they added Kenta Maeda to a pitching staff already consisting of Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, Michael Pineda, and Homer Bailey.

World Series Odds: +2200

The Rays chances at bringing a championship to St. Pete are relatively decent. At +2200, that’s currently the ninth-best odds in the entire league. It’s not terrible but it presents a very good value for a team with three potential Cy Young candidates at the head of their rotation.

Best Bets

Out of all these odds, the safest play here for me is the over on the win total. Currently, at 91.5, I think that’s a great value. You could also throw something down on them winning the division despite the Yankees being there. While not the huge payroll monster that the Yankees are, this Rays’ team has a ton of talent and is plenty capable of potentially winning 100 plus games which is probably what it’s going to take in order to slay the giant that is the Yanks.

Next. Rays 2015 Top 10 Prospects: Where are they now?. dark

Do you think the Rays are a good bet in 2020?

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