Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions June 22nd 2025

The Tampa Bay Rays are playing with a supreme level of confidence, and now they have a chance to prove what they believe to be true. The red-hot Tampa Bay Rays will go for a statement sweep of the team with baseball’s best record, the visiting Detroit Tigers, in their series finale on Sunday.

“We are the Best Team in MLB”

That’s the bold claim from Rays slugger Yandy Diaz, and it’s hard to argue with their recent play. The Rays are a major-league-best 22-8 since May 20, a stretch that includes a historic comeback win against the Orioles and now two dominant victories over the Tigers. After outscoring Detroit 22-11 in the first two games, their confidence is sky-high.

“I think that we just show up against good teams,” said pitcher Shane Baz. “They’re kind of a complete team also, and I think it just speaks to what we can do.”

Tigers Look to Salvage Finale

Even with the best record among all MLB teams, the Tigers have been outplayed in this series. They will look to salvage the finale and avoid a sweep before heading back home. Manager A.J. Hinch is focused on finding positives even in losses, praising pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones for a tough, 13-pitch at-bat in Saturday’s defeat.

The Mize Mission

Detroit will turn to their young ace, Casey Mize (7-2, 2.96), to be the stopper on Sunday. The former No. 1 overall pick has been excellent this season, winning five of his last six decisions. However, he faces a tough challenge, as he has a 6.43 career ERA against the Rays.

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Littell Seeks to Rebound

The Rays will counter with right-hander Zack Littell (6-7, 3.88 ERA). While the team has been winning, Littell is on a two-game personal losing streak and will be looking to get back on track and contribute to the team’s hot streak. This is the kind of matchup where a struggling pitcher can be a tempting underdog, a topic explored in our expert betting guide.

A Clash of Powerhouses

Sunday’s pitching matchup between the steady Mize and the rebounding Littell provides a fantastic backdrop for this clash of AL powerhouses. The scores and odds will reflect a tight contest between two of the league’s best teams. To see if our experts think the Rays can complete the sweep, check out our daily MLB picks.