MLB Bets: All-in on the Rays for Friday night SGP

When any team is hot, regardless of the sport, we abide by the saying -- don't stop till they're not. It's certainly cheesy, but more times than not it holds true. And with the Tampa Bay Rays a perfect 6-0 on the season, why shouldn't you continue to bet on them to win? We can't come up with a single reason, so we're going to headline our SGP with a Rays win on Friday over the Athletics. 

We've heard plenty of whispers about the Rays undefeated start to the season being blown out of proportion -- especially after playing the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals to begin the year -- but 6-0 is 6-0. We don't care who it's against. It's damn impressive. And until the Rays actually lose a game, you shouldn't bet against them. 

Oakland might be slightly better than they were last season -- worst record in the American League in 2022-- but they still haven't won a series this year and are catching the Rays at the absolute worst possible time. Everything, and we mean nearly everything, would have to go the A's way for them to come away with the win, so trust us, and take the Rays on the moneyline. 

The Rays haven't scored less than four runs in a single game all year and with Oakland starter Ken Waldichuk getting roughed up in his season debut -- 5.2 IP, 6 R, 9 H -- we wouldn't be surprised if the Rays score four runs by the fourth inning. Tampa Bay might not have that "elite bat" in their lineup, but the Rays have struck out the fewest amongst American League teams and are one of the best teams in baseball at grinding out at bats. 

As for the last leg of our SGP, take the Rays (+0.5) on the runline in the first inning. Tampa Bay has yet to trail at the end of the first inning in any game this season, and we don't see that changing on Friday. Rays starter Zach Eflin was outstanding in his season debut last week against the Tigers -- 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K -- and tossed four shutout innings last year against the A's. Considering how bad the A's offense has been the last couple of years, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Eflin blanks Oakland on Friday either. This is definitely the riskiest leg of the SGP, but totally worth including based on Eflin's early seson success and the Rays success so far this year in the first inning. 

The SGP: Tampa Bay Rays (moneyline), Tampa Bay Rays (over 3.5 runs) and Tampa Bay Rays +0.5 (1st Inning) (+110 odds via BetMGM).

Bet $100 to win $110.