Marlins vs. Rays prediction: Why Tampa Bay is favored to win Sunday's MLB matchup [5/17/2026]
Get Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays predictions for MLB Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins are scheduled to meet in MLB action at Tropicana Field on Sunday, starting at 12:15 PM ET.
Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 3.16 ERA) will start for the Rays, while the Marlins have opted for Eury Pérez (2-5, 4.94 ERA).
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven MLB model predicts the Rays as the most likely winner of the Marlins vs. Rays game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Sunday's matchup, including best bets and picks.
Marlins vs. Rays prediction: Who will win and cover?
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Rays a 56% chance of defeating the Marlins.
According to our model, the Marlins (+1.5) have a 61% chance of covering the run line, while the 7.5-run over/under has a 53% chance of going over.
Marlins vs. Rays odds [5/17/2026]
We have sourced the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Marlins | Rays |
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | +1.5 (-170) | -1.5 (+146) |
| Moneyline | +125 | -144 |
| Total | o7.5 (+100) | u7.5 (-119) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Marlins vs. Rays picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Marlins +1.5 | -170 |
| Moneyline | Marlins | +125 |
| Total | Over 7.5 | +100 |
According to our best MLB bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 7.5 total runs.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Marlins vs. Rays game-day updates and essential details
Sunday's MLB game between the Rays and Marlins at Tropicana Field is scheduled to begin at 12:15 PM ET.
- Who: Miami Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Time: 12:15 PM ET/9:15AM PT
- Venue: Tropicana Field
Conclusion
We predict the Rays, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat the Marlins in Sunday's MLB matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.



