Weekend Series Preview 5/9-5/11

Tampa Bay Rays -145 / Milwaukee Brewers +120

Pick: MIL +120

Key Stat - Rays Starting Pitcher Innings

Friday - Quintana/Littell - Brewers WIN

Jose Quintana got blasted by the Cubs his last time out, but otherwise had pitched his way to a 1.14 ERA in April. Only 21 strikeouts in 5 starts is worth some concern against a Tampa Bay team that can generate runes. Zack Littell should not be able to outduel Quintana however and the Brewers will either tag him for a few runs or force Tampa Bay into the bullpen early. My guess is the latter, setting up a weekend situation that the Rays won’t be able to pull themselves out of.

Saturday - Myers/Bradley - Brewers WIN

Tobias Myers makes only his fourth start of the season, yet is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA despite only 8 strikeouts. The story in this game is more about Taj Bradley and which version of him takes the mound Saturday for the Rays. 3-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 2025 are actually improvements over career marks, and Bradley has been tagged by the Rangers and Yankees while failing to record quality starts in 4 of 7 games this year. He will need to keep the walks under control, or risk handing the game off to a Rays bullpen that has already had to put in significant work against the Phillies this week.

Sunday - TBD/Rasmussen - Brewers WIN

The Brewers have not yet announced a starter for Sunday, but at the rate of decay in the Ray’s bullpen, it might not matter. (My bet is Peralta) Rasmussen has had a tough go of it lately, and is without a quality start so far this year. This pattern, and Perlata’s upside gives this one to the Brewers with a depleted Ray’s bullpen providing the finishing touches on a sweep weekend.

Other series worth a look:

Cubs (+130) over Mets (-160)

Phillies (-135) over Guardians (+115)