It’s a potential World Series preview from the desert on Wednesday night as the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays visit the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

What do the Rays and Diamondbacks have in common? Both began as expansion franchises in the 1998 season. Arizona has won a World Series in its history but Tampa Bay hasn’t – although it could this year. The Rays have lost a couple of times in the Fall Classic.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Rays vs. Diamondbacks Game Information

Bedtime. pic.twitter.com/XzXVTKWRAW

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 28, 2023

• When: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 9:40 PM ET
• Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
• TV: BSSUN, BSAZ
• Radio: WDAE 620 AM (Rays) // KMVP-FM 98.7 (Diamondbacks)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Rays (-154) // Diamondbacks (+130)

READ MORE: Marlins vs Red Sox MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – June 29, 2023

Why bet on the Tampa Bay Rays?

Starting Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe began a rehab assignment Monday with the Rays’ rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate this week in what was his first game action in three weeks since being shelved with lower-back inflammation. He’ll eventually move his assignment from the FCL to Triple-A Durham before likely rejoining the Rays at some point during the final week before the All-Star break. Lowe was hitting .205 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 50 games before going down.

Reliever Calvin Faucher (1-1, 5.21) also began a rehab assignment this week. Faucher has been on the shelf since early June due to right elbow inflammation and is likely a few weeks away from returning to Tampa Bay’s bullpen mix.

Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener, the Diamondbacks sent lefty reliever Joe Mantiply to Triple-A Reno. The 32-year-old had struggled to a lackluster 5.74 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14/1 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings (13 appearances) during an injury-plagued 2023 campaign.

It’s Zach Eflin (9-3) for the Rays. Eflin picked up the win last Friday, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings in an 11-3 victory over the Royals. He struck out seven. The damage came on early homers by Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez (hamstring), but Eflin settled down while the Tampa Bay offense got rolling. The quality start was Eflin’s sixth in his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which the right-hander sports a 3.32 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 40:10 K:BB through 43.1 innings.

Tropicana Field has been especially kind to Eflin, who is 8-0 with a 2.17 ERA in eight home starts for Tampa Bay. On the road, he’s 1-3 with a 5.08 ERA. Eflin, a long-time member of the Phillies before signing with the Rays this past winter, is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 21.1 career innings vs. Arizona. Christian Walker is 2-for-4 off him.

Why bet on the Arizona Diamondbacks?

The Snakes were to start Tommy Henry on Wednesday but have opted to go with Zach Davies instead for reasons unknown. Davies (1-4) took the loss last Friday, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks over four innings against San Francisco. He struck out two. The first three batters reached base to start the fifth, and that would be it for Davies. Two more runs would come in after his exit.

Davies continues to struggle mightily this year, as he now has a 7.82 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 35.2 innings. Over his last three starts he’s lasted just 10.2 innings, and given up 21 runs, 18 earned for a 15.19 ERA. Batters have hit .393 and he’s walked 8 while striking out just 8.

“I’m not going to mince words,” Arizona pitching Coach Brent Strom said after Davies’ last start. “I’ve been pounding on Zach to change his approach at least re-setting again fastballs inside. I learned this a long time ago; When pitchers start to get hit they tend to run away from the strike zone, they tend to run to the outer part of the plate. I ask anybody here, if you got into the ring with Mike Tyson for example, and you have to last a minute, you’re best defense is to get as close to him as you can so he doesn’t get leverage. And this is what we need to do with Zach.

“I need to get him to understand that a 90 MPH fastball inside will play at 95. The walks are what’s concerning because this guy has never walked people before in his career, and he’s had a nice career. What happens is when you try to be too fine and you aim for corners you have to be perfect with it.”

Rays vs. Diamondbacks Betting Trends

• Rays are 5-0 in its last 5 Wednesday games.
• Tampa Bay is 7-2 in the last 9 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
• The total went over in 7 of Tampa Bay’s last 8 games.
• Diamondbacks are 11-4 in their last 15 Wednesday games.
• Arizona are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
• The total went over in 6 of Arizona’s last 9 games.

Rays vs. Diamondbacks Betting Prediction

Rays 6, Diamondbacks 4.

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