Mets vs. Rays Odds, Predictions and Best Betting Picks for Monday

Aug 30, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts after he gets an out at third base on a steal against the San Diego Padres at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images The New York Mets (61-76) and the Tampa Bay Rays (82-54) meet at Tropicana Field on Monday for the opener of a three-game interleague series. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET.New York heads into the game in dead-last of the National League East, going 18-18 in interleague play this season. They’re also 13-24 against left-handed starting pitchers, while going 29-37 on the road.On the flip side, Tampa Bay enters play in first place in the American League East, holding a 4.5-game cushion over the New York Yankees with 26 games remaining in the regular season. The Rays have done most of their damage at home, posting a 46-23 record under the roof, with a plus-54 run differential. The Rays are also a respectable 22-17 in interleague play.The Mets turn to RHP Robert Stock (0-3, 7.40 ERA, 1.94 WHIP) for the start, but he has been a disaster in his five outings to date. The upside is there, and he has 21 strikeouts across his 20 ⅔ innings. However, he also has 13 walks, he has pitched to contact, giving up 27 hits, as he just isn’t fooling anyone.The Rays counter with LHP Ian Seymour (9-5, 4.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), and he makes his 12th start and 42nd appearance on the season. He has a high strikeout rate, posting 128 punchouts across 107 IP. In his past seven appearances, which include four starts, he is 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, walking just six batters, while whiffing 49.New York limps in with four losses in the past five games, and it has managed just 17 runs in the past seven games since Aug. 23, or 2.4 runs per game (RPG). The Under is 5-1-2 in the past eight games, and 9-2-2 in the past 13 outings.Tampa Bay is flying high after a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres in one of the more marquee series over the weekend. It won the final two games in thrilling one-run games, averaging 7.0 runs per game against the Padres, while allowing 4.7 RPG. The Over has cashed in three in a row, and seven of the past eight at home.In this series, too, while the teams met semi-frequently, with just one three meetings per season, Tampa Bay has owned New York, winning six in a row, while the Over is 4-0 in the past four in the series. The Rays are 8-2 in the past 10 in the series, too, while the Over is 8-2 in the same 10-game span.We’re going to bank on the Rays doing most of the lifting to get this one across the finish line for an OVER 8 (-110) against Stock for our best play of the night.As far as the side, if you’re interested in a same-game parlay, RAYS (-170) is the safe play, and if you’re a little more adventurous, go RAYS -1.5 (+125) at plus-money against the very giving Stock.And, yes, picking on the Mets’ starting pitcher, JUNIOR CAMINERO - ANYTIME HOME RUN (+300), for the chance to triple up, is too tough to pass up. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: betting