A potential World Series preview is on tap tonight in Atlanta. The Rays (85-58) remain the class of the American League, angling for the Junior Circuit’s top seed in the playoffs. Tampa Bay will hope to bolster its record on the road against a formidable opponent. The Braves (85-59) are an experienced, battle-tested club that has a chance at dethroning the Dodgers. Taking care of business against another elite club would give the NL East leaders a major momentum boost. Which of these clubs will come out on top during Tuesday’s matchup?
The Braves are favorites (-117) over the Rays; the over/under is set at eight runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday’s showdown between Tampa Bay and Atlanta on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Rays vs. Braves pick, best bet today
- Rays ML (-105): This bet comes down to Peralta, who is finally beginning to look like an ace. As for Smith-Shawver, a midseason return hasn’t led to promising results. Tampa Bay’s group of pesky hitters could frustrate the youngster this evening.
Rays vs. Braves prediction, preview
One of the bigger moves during August 3rd’s trade deadline saw the Rays bring aboard Freddy Peralta. The former Mets hurler has struggled for most of 2025, but his talent is undeniable. Unsurprisingly, the two-time All-Star is beginning to bounce back with Tampa Bay. Over his last five starts, Peralta has notched a 3.34 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 24 strikeouts (7.3 K/9). In his previous 12.0 innings pitched, the right-hander has allowed just one earned run. In many ways, Peralta was due for some positive regression. His peripherals this season aren’t spectacular, but a 3.89 xERA and .236 xBA are nothing to sneeze at.
Tampa Bay’s newest arm will have his work cut out tonight. The Braves are among the league’s most dangerous lineups. They’re ninth in runs scored (665), seventh in home runs (182) and 13th in OPS (.722). This group hasn’t exactly been dangerous lately, ranking 21st in runs over its last ten contests. Regardless, sleep on this group at your own risk. Atlanta batters have performed far better at home, averaging nearly five runs per game. Still, it’s not as if this is an insurmountable challenge for Peralta. The Dominican’s favorite weapon is a four-seam fastball, which he’s thrown on half of his pitches. Braves hitters have notched a mediocre .234/.315/.387 slash line against that offering this season.
A.J. Smith-Shawver gets the nod for Atlanta, making just his fifth start of 2026. When healthy, the right-hander has proven to be a difference maker. However, he’s been nothing short of disastrous on the mound this season. Over 17.2 innings of work, the 23-year-old is on the hook for a 7.13 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 15 strikeouts. Granted, those numbers are almost guaranteed to improve going forward. Still, the youngster is a difficult pitcher for Braves fans to trust at the moment. Most troubling is a lack of command; Smith-Shawver owns a sky-high 5.6 BB/9 ratio.
The Rays aren’t an offensive juggernaut, but this team can put up a crooked number. They’re 11th in the majors with 4.52 runs per game. That’s despite hitting the league’s sixth-fewest home runs (149). Instead of power, Tampa Bay does most of its damage by stringing together base hits. The team ranks first in batting average (.260) and fifth in on-base percentage (.329). That knack for working the count and putting traffic on the base paths could give Atlanta some trouble tonight. During 20 career starts, Smith-Shawver has a subpar 8.1 hits per nine innings ratio.
It was only a matter of time until Peralta found his groove. Atlanta can do some damage at the plate, but Tampa Bay’s starter has experience in this spot. He allowed one run in each of his two outings vs. the Braves this season. In comparison, Smith-Shawver has been abysmal on the mound so far. A gritty, contact-oriented Rays lineup should find a way to get on base tonight. The visitors come into this one with a far more capable pitcher toeing the slab; that alone makes them worth a closer look at -105.
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