The Tampa Bay Rays began their fire sale with the trade of Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners. I love fading teams in the game after trading away a popular player in the clubhouse. Nick Lodolo has reverse splits as right-handed batters are hitting .210 while lefties are hitting .258. The Rays have just one true left-handed hitter in tonight’s projected lineup. Nick has an ERA of 2.84 with an average against of .173 on the road compared to a 4.05 ERA and a .257 average against at home. Shane Baz has struggled against left-handed batters with a .364 average against, a .606 slugging percentage, and 1.052 OPS. The Reds are ranked fifth in bullpen ERA (3.48), while the Rays are ranked 25th (4.37).

The Rays are 17-9 vs lefties this season and while Nick Lodolo is a good one when he's right, I'm not buying him since he returned from his latest IL stint. Three starts since then have yielded 10 ER in 14 2/3 IP. He's gone under 5 IP in 3 of his last 4 and Reds pen doesn't scare me. Rays also 17-9 in Interleague. We continue to back Shane Baz; expect his command to be better here. Rays are 10-5 in their last 15 at home since rough series with an O's team that was red hot at the time.