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

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?

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.