The Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies each open their 2025 MLB seasons when the square off on Friday, March 28. Due to extensive damage to the roof of Tropicana Field, the Rays will play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training home of the Yankees, this season. These teams are the only ones who did not play on Thursday. Tampa Bay finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 80-82, including a mark of 42-39 in home games. The Rockies finished the 2024 season with the worst record in the National League at 61-101, including a 24-57 record in road games. Kyle Freeland is expected to start for Colorado, while Ryan Pepiot is projected to be on the mound for the Rays.
First pitch at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida is set for 4:10 p.m. ET. Tampa is a -209 favorite on the money line (risk $209 to win $100) in the latest Rays vs. Rockies odds from SportsLine consensus, while the Rockies are +173 underdogs. The over/under, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, is 8. Before making any Rockies vs. Rays picks, be sure to check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It enters the 2025 MLB season on a 32-17 roll on top-rated run-line betting picks (+699) that dates back to 2023. Anybody following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rockies vs. Rays and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Rays vs. Rockies:
- Rays vs. Rockies money line: Tampa Bay -209, Colorado +173 at Caesars Sportsbook
- Rays vs. Rockies over/under: 8 runs
- Rays vs. Rockies run line: Rays -1.5 (+109)
- Rays vs. Rockies picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Rays vs. Rockies streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Rockies can cover
Colorado is expected to send veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland to the mound. Freeland has battles some consistency issues during the last few seasons, but remains one of the most successful pitchers in Rockies’ history. The Denver native has been dominant at times during his eight seasons in the Big Leagues and was a legitimate Cy Young contender in 2018.
The Rockies have a core group of young players that is extremely talented. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is a rising star and is coming off a Gold Glove campaign in 2024. Tovar also his .269 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI last season. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Rays can cover
The Rays are consistently competitive in the AL East, one of the toughest divisions in MLB. Tampa Bay is expected to start Ryan Pepiot on Friday. Last year was Pepiot’s first full season in the Majors, and the 27-year-old finished with a record of 8-8 with an ERA of 3.60 and WHIP of 1.15 in 130.0 innings.
Offensively, the Rays are led by veteran first baseman Yandy Diaz. The 33-year-old Cuban hit .281 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI. Shortstop Jose Caballero is a terror on the bases for Tampa Bay. In 2024, Caballero finished with 44 stolen bases in 2024. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Rockies vs. Rays picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the run total, and it says one side of the money line has all the value. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s MLB picks.
So who wins Rockies vs. Rays on Friday, and which side of the moneyline has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.
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