Mets vs. Rays prediction: Why Tampa Bay is favored to win Wednesday's MLB matchup [9/2/2026]
Dimers' simulation model projects a 56.1% win probability for the Rays at Tropicana Field.

The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets will lock horns in MLB action at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, starting at 6:40 PM ET.
Griffin Jax (6-9, 3.63 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for the Rays, while the Mets are going with Justin Hagenman (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Rays as the most likely winner in this Mets vs. Rays prediction.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Wednesday's matchup, including best bets and picks.
Mets vs. Rays prediction and odds
Our independent predictive model gives the Rays a 56.1% chance of defeating the Mets.
According to our model, the Mets (+1.5) have a 61.1% chance of covering the run line, while the 7.5-run over/under has a 56.5% chance of going over.
Latest betting odds
We have sourced the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
- Run Line: Mets +1.5 (-144) / Rays -1.5 (+138)
- Moneyline: Mets +153, Rays -156
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Model picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
- Run line: Mets +1.5 @ -144 via DraftKings
- Moneyline: Mets @ +153 via Novig
- Total: Over 7.5 @ -120 via Novig
According to our MLB best bets, the top play to make on this game is Mets to win.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Game info & first pitch details
Wednesday's MLB game between the Rays and Mets at Tropicana Field is scheduled to commence at 6:40 PM ET.
- Who: New York Mets vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Time: 6:40 PM ET/3:40PM PT
- Venue: Tropicana Field
Conclusion
We predict the Rays, with a 56.1% win probability, will likely beat the Mets in Wednesday's MLB matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.




