The San Diego Padres are set to clash with the Tampa Bay Rays this Sunday at Tropicana Field, with the first pitch slated for 1:40 p.m. ET.
San Diego (77-60 SU, 71-66 RL and 74-61-2 O/U) will send right-hander Dylan Cease to the mound. The 28-year-old has a record of 12-10 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 28 starts this season.
Tampa Bay (66-68 SU, 65-69 RL and 60-68-6 O/U) will counter with righty Ryan Pepiot. The 27-year-old boasts a record of 7-6, accompanied by a 3.61 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in his 20 starts.
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*Article published prior to the conclusion of Saturday’s game.
Padres’ Road Performance Shines in 2024
San Diego showcased its offensive prowess in the opening game of the series, putting up an impressive 13 runs on 13 hits alongside eight walks. The Padres have achieved a strong 40-28 record on the road this season and boast a remarkable 27-11 record since the All-Star break.
Key players for San Diego include CF Jackson Merrill (20 HR and .817 OPS), 1B Luis Arraez (.307 BA), and LF Jurickson Profar (21 HR and .848 OPS). The team ranks 6th in on-base percentage (.326) and 8th in OPS (.745) with a total of 158 home runs (12th). The pitching staff holds a collective 3.97 ERA (14th) and a 1.24 WHIP (12th).
Cease will take the mound for the Padres on Sunday in Florida. In his most recent outing against St. Louis, he surrendered four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. This season, he has a 7-4 record with a 3.92 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 16 road starts. Cease faced Tampa Bay twice last year, allowing ten runs (nine earned) in eight combined innings. His career record against the Rays stands at 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in five appearances.
Rays’ Pepiot Shows Promise on the Mound
The Rays struggled to contain the Padres’ offense in Friday’s series opener, leading to a decisive victory for the visitors. Tampa Bay holds a 34-35 record at home this season and is 18-20 overall in the second half.
Leading the charge for Tampa Bay are 2B Brandon Lowe (16 HR and .803 OPS), SS Jose Caballero (37 SB), and CF Jose Siri (17 HR). The team ranks 21st in on-base percentage (.305) and 26th in OPS (.674) with 125 home runs (27th). The Rays’ pitching staff has a 3.97 ERA (13th) and a 1.23 WHIP (7th).
Pepiot will be on the mound for Tampa Bay during Sunday afternoon’s game. In his last outing, he allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out six in a six-inning loss to Seattle. He sports a 3-3 record with a 3.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 12 home starts. Pepiot is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career appearances against San Diego, having last faced them in 2023, where he allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in six innings.
Betting Insights for Padres vs. Rays
There appears to be value in placing a bet on the Tampa Bay money line.
The pitching matchup suggests a closer contest than some may think, as Pepiot is not getting the recognition he deserves. His xERA aligns closely with his actual ERA, and he has permitted two earned runs or fewer in his last eight starts. Additionally, the Rays’ bullpen has been performing admirably in the latter half of the season. The Padres, who have not taken a day off since August 15, may find it difficult to generate offensive momentum during a day game at the end of a road trip.
Tampa Bay’s hitters will challenge Cease to earn his outs as well. The right-hander struggled with his command in his last performance, throwing only 52 strikes out of 96 pitches while allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks. Observers of that game may question whether he can maintain his recent level of performance.
