Tampa Bay Rays vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Predictions May 9th 2025

Both Clubs Searching for Stability in Tampa

When the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night to open a three-game weekend series, both teams will be seeking a fresh start.

For the Brewers, it’s about getting right on the road—where they’ve slumped to a 7-12 mark. For the Rays, it’s the inverse: they’ve lost seven straight at home and 11 of their past 12 at Tropicana Field, including a painful 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

Each team’s struggles provide a compelling storyline for this weekend showdown, and bettors are watching closely for who might bounce back first.

Track up-to-date betting lines and props on the MLB Odds and Scores page.

Pitching Matchup: Quintana vs. Littell

Milwaukee Brewers: José Quintana (4-1, 2.83 ERA)
Tampa Bay Rays: Zack Littell (2-5, 4.61 ERA)

The Brewers hand the ball to veteran José Quintana, who was brilliant in April (0.86 ERA) but stumbled in his first May outing. Quintana allowed six runs, three homers, and seven hits in five innings during a loss to the Chicago Cubs.

At age 36, he brings experience but has had mixed results against Tampa Bay in his career, going 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 appearances (9 starts).

Quintana is one of MLB’s more unpredictable starters, capable of tossing a gem or getting tagged early. Bettors may want to monitor his early command and fly ball rate.

The Rays counter with Zack Littell, who is finally trending in the right direction. Littell has won each of his last two starts, including a seven-inning, three-hit performance against the New York Yankees where he yielded only solo homers to Aaron Judge and Austin Wells.

Littell enters Friday with a 1.00 ERA in nine relief appearances against Milwaukee, but this will be his first career start vs. the Brewers.

View career matchups and splits on the MLB Team Page.

Rays Need Home Rebound

Despite Yandy Diaz’s recent power surge (2 HRs in last 3 games), the Rays have faltered at Tropicana. Thursday’s meltdown saw a four-run lead erased and marked their third straight loss, all at home.

Tampa Bay hasn’t found a reliable rhythm:

• The bullpen has been leaky late.
• The offense is inconsistent with runners in scoring position.
• The defense has made uncharacteristic errors.

Manager Kevin Cash praised Littell’s outing last weekend, saying, “To navigate that lineup through seven innings, two solo homers and that’s all the damage — just a tremendous job.”

Still, the Rays need more than just strong pitching—they need clutch bats and shutdown innings late.

Brewers Await Return of Key Starters

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy expects the return of several key pieces on Friday:

• William Contreras (fractured finger) is likely back after missing one game.
• Sal Frelick (knee) and Brice Turang (illness) are also probable to return.

Contreras has been gutting through his injury. “He’s played through a lot of stuff before… blown-up fingers and all of that,” said Christian Yelich. “If anyone can do it, it’s him.”

Milwaukee needs their offense clicking again after scoring just two runs in their previous game against the Cubs. Yelich and Willy Adames will be leaned on to produce early against Littell’s cutter-heavy arsenal.

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Roster Moves & Injury News

The Brewers optioned reliever Elvin Rodriguez after continued struggles and sent Aaron Civale to Triple-A Nashville for a rehab stint. Civale is working back from a hamstring strain and could return in the coming week.

For the Rays, Cory Kluber and Shane Baz remain sidelined, with Baz reportedly ramping up in bullpen sessions. Their absences have increased the pressure on mid-rotation arms like Littell to deliver deep outings.

Stay updated with injury reports and fantasy alerts on the MLB Expert Betting Guide.

Key Trends and Stats

• Brewers are 7-12 on the road this season
• Rays are 7-15 at home
• Tampa Bay has lost 7 straight games at Tropicana Field
• Quintana has a 5.40 ERA against Tampa in 10 career games
• Under is 4-1 in Littell’s last 5 starts

Matchups to Watch

William Contreras vs. Zack Littell
If Contreras returns, he’ll be a key matchup for Littell. Contreras has quick hands and strong opposite-field power, ideal for Littell’s mix of sliders and cutters.

Yandy Diaz vs. José Quintana
Diaz is swinging a hot bat, and Quintana’s tendency to elevate pitches could give Diaz a chance to leave the yard again.

Bullpen Control
Tampa Bay has coughed up leads lately, while Milwaukee has leaned on Trevor Megill in late innings. Games could swing in the 7th or 8th frame.

FAQs

Who is starting Friday’s game between the Brewers and Rays?
José Quintana for Milwaukee and Zack Littell for Tampa Bay.

What is Milwaukee’s record on the road?
The Brewers are 7-12 away from home.

Why has Tampa Bay been so poor at home?
Inconsistent offense and bullpen meltdowns have led to 11 losses in their last 12 home games.

Is William Contreras playing?
Contreras is expected to return Friday after sitting out one game with a fractured finger.

How has Zack Littell pitched lately?
Littell has won his last two starts and went 7 strong innings vs. the Yankees.

Where can I find more betting picks?
Visit the MLB Service Plays page and Free Plays for daily insight.