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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

MLB best bets: How can Rays make you money? Let us count the ways

By Jared Shlensky | Last updated 4/10/23

It's no secret the Tampa Bay Rays are the best team in baseball after winning their ninth straight game on Sunday over Oakland. But instead of asking yourself when is the Rays' streak actually going to end, maybe you should be asking yourself how you can make money off Tampa Bay outside of betting them on the moneyline? The answer ... a lot of different ways.

Not only are the Rays a perfect 9-0 to start the season, but Tampa Bay has also covered the runline in every game this season, have scored four or more runs in every game, have yet to trail after the first inning, have trailed just once after five and maybe most impressive, their starters have recorded the win eight times already. That's impressive, and for bettors who have been betting on the Rays to hit on these prop bets during their winning streak, a profitable one, too.

Eventually the Rays are going to lose — let's be honest, it's probably going to be sometime this week — but until they actually do, betting against them is super, super risky. We know what you're thinking ... they haven't played anyone good yet. And that's a fair point, but it's not like Tampa Bay set the schedule. Winning is winning. Doesn't matter if it includes sweeps over Detroit, Washington and Oakland.

So, before you start including a bunch of these prop bets in your next Rays SGP — for the record, we're not telling you not to — maybe stick to some single bets for now. Like taking Tampa to cover the runline or lead after the fifth. More times than not, both bets have had +100 odds or better. Same goes for Tampa's starter to record the win or score four runs or more. Take Sunday for example. Starter Drew Rasmussen was +120 to record the win and had odds way north of +100 to record six or more strikeouts -- both hit in case you were wondering.

Could that change on Monday against the Boston Red Sox? Absolutely. But here's a free tip for you -- the Rays pitching is legit. It's been like that for a while too. No, not nearly this good, and definitely not this early in the season, but the Rays pitching is always its biggest strength. Tampa leads MLB in ERA (1.89), WHIP (0.94), opponents' batting average (.193) and quality starts (seven), and that's far from a fluke. This pitching staff is elite, and opposing teams should be very, very afraid. And more importantly, bettors should continue to put money on the Rays starters to dominate.

The Rays are +130 to win by two or more runs on Monday vs. Boston, and that's a bet you should put some money on and continue to put money on. And even if the odds aren't +100 or better moving forward -- like it was on Saturday and Sunday against Oakland -- we believe in riding a team who is rolling until they fail to deliver. Same goes for Wander Franco to record a hit -- he's recorded a hit in eight of the team's first nine games -- or for Tampa to lead after the fifth inning (-110 odds on Monday).

Another betting market the Rays have done well in is against the over. Not perfect like Tampa's record against the moneyline and runline, but 6-2-1 against the over is still really good. And with Boston 6-3 against the over and posting the third worst starters ERA in baseball, there's no reason not to. Whether it's betting on the Rays now or later this week, riding the Rays in more than one way — moneyline, run line, total runs scored, etc. — is a must.

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