The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays on March 31, 2026. First pitch from American Family Field is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on BREW.
The Brewers are favored by -138 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Rays are +118 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 7.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Rays vs Brewers prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Rays vs Brewers Prediction
- Rays vs Brewers Pick: Rays ML (+118)
My Rays vs Brewers best bet is on Tampa Bay's moneyline. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rays vs Brewers Odds
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -178 | 7.5 -102o / -120u | +118 |
| Brewers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +150 | 7.5 -102o / -120u | -138 |
- Rays vs Brewers spread: Rays +1.5 (-178), Brewers -1.5 (+150)
- Rays vs Brewers over/under: 7.5 (-102o / -120u)
- Rays vs Brewers moneyline: Rays +118, Brewers -138
Rays vs Brewers Projected Starting Pitchers
| LHP Shane McClanahan (TBR) | 2025 Stats | RHP Brandon Woodruff (MIL) |
|---|---|---|
| (Did not play in 2025) | W-L | 7-2 |
| fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.8 | |
| ERA / xERA | 3.20 / 2.20 | |
| FIP / xFIP | 3.17 / 3.24 | |
| WHIP | 0.91 | |
| K-BB% | 26.8 | |
| GB% | 34.0 | |
| Stuff+ | 97 | |
| Location+ | 106 |
Rays vs Brewers Preview
After facing southpaw Kyle Harrison on Monday, the Rays will deploy their strong-side platoon lineup against Brandon Woodruff.
Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero are both nearly 40% better than league average against left-handed pitching, but they are also the Rays' only two above-average bats against lefties.
Conversely, while Caminero and Diaz are closer to 25% above average against righties, they are accompanied by above-average left-handed bats (Jonathan Aranda and Jake Fraley) and three other average depth pieces (Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, and Richie Palacios), with Chandler Simpson's game-changing speed also on display against right-handed pitching.
Rays' lefty Shane McClanahan also forces the Brewers into their lesser split; Milwaukee's current platoon lineups carry an average 103 wRC+ against righties, compared to a 99 wRC+ against lefties.
McLanahan (projected FIP range 3.34 to 3.91; projected K-BB% of 15.5% to 20.1%) will make his first major league start since 2023 (career 3.63 xERA, 3.15 xFIP, 20.9% K-BB%) following Tommy John surgery and a subsequent triceps injury.
He pitched well in spring (13 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 15 K), getting up to 73 pitches in his final outing on March 20, while touching 95 mph on his fastball in his fifth and final inning.
And he generally projects better than Brandon Woodruff (projected FIP range 3.64 to 4.12; projected K-BB% of 17.0% to 19.3%), who made 12 starts last season, after returning from his own lengthy recovery (surgery in October 2023) following a shoulder injury.
Woodruff (2.20 xERA, 3.24 xFIP, 26.8% K-BB% in his 2025 sample) had an odd ramp-up this spring, tossing just five total innings across two outings while going from 32 to 62 pitches but prioritizing caution.
Rays vs Brewers Picks
The leash for either starter may be around 80 pitches on Tuesday.
The bullpens, baserunning, and defensive quality are roughly even on either side.
Still, I do give Tampa Bay the edge, specifically in the first five innings (F5), in the starting pitching matchup, in their respective handedness, and in their offensive splits.
Bet the Rays to even money on the F5 moneyline, or play their full game line to +108, in what I project as a coinflip contest.
Pick: Rays ML (+118, FanDuel | Play to +108)
