Tampa Bay Rays vs Colorado Rockies Picks and Prediction for Monday August 3 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Monday, August 3, 2026. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET, with coverage available on Rays.TV and Rockies.TV. Tampa Bay enters Sunday at 65-45 overall, while Colorado stands at 44-67. The early market lists the Rays around -168 and the Rockies near +129, although a widely available run line and total had not been posted. Before wagering on Monday’s matchup, check out our free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers
Ian Seymour is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay. The left-hander is 7-3 with a 4.37 ERA this season. Colorado is expected to counter with Michael Lorenzen, who is 3-9 with a 6.54 ERA. Neither starter brings an especially low ERA into the series opener, but Seymour owns the stronger record and has allowed more than two fewer earned runs per nine innings. That provides the Rays with a substantial starting-pitching advantage entering a game at one of baseball’s most offense-friendly venues.
Tampa Bay Takes Its Strong Pitching on the Road
Tampa Bay has won three of its previous five completed games. The Rays lost 4-1 to Texas before recording two consecutive victories over the Rangers. They opened their weekend series against the Chicago White Sox with a 6-1 loss but responded with a 1-0 victory on Saturday. Three shutouts within four games demonstrate how effectively Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has controlled opponents recently.
The Rays are batting .257 with a .329 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage. Tampa Bay has scored 483 runs while hitting 110 home runs and stealing 104 bases. The lineup has not depended heavily upon home-run production, instead combining a strong batting average with speed and an ability to put runners on base. That style could generate considerable pressure against a Colorado starter carrying a 6.54 ERA.
Tampa Bay owns a 3.68 team ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .228 batting average. Those season-long pitching figures provide the visitors with the clearest overall advantage in this matchup. The concern is that Seymour’s 4.37 ERA is higher than the staff’s collective mark, and pitching at Coors Field creates an additional challenge. Even so, the Rays have allowed only 444 runs this season and have demonstrated the ability to win games when their offense produces very little.
Colorado’s Offense Shows Signs of Life at Home
Colorado has won two consecutive games after enduring another difficult road stretch. The Rockies lost 11-2 to Milwaukee and then suffered an 8-7 defeat at San Diego. They returned home and defeated Kansas City 3-1 before producing a 12-6 victory on Saturday. That offensive outburst lifted Colorado to 44-67 and demonstrated the potential danger of facing the Rockies at Coors Field.
The Rockies have scored 530 runs this season, giving them more total offensive production than Tampa Bay despite their much weaker overall record. Colorado’s offense can be especially dangerous at home, where the combination of aggressive hitting and favorable scoring conditions can quickly turn a manageable game into a high-scoring contest. The Rockies have scored 18 runs over their past three completed games.
Run prevention remains Colorado’s defining weakness. The Rockies have surrendered 635 runs, 191 more than Tampa Bay, and Lorenzen’s 6.54 ERA creates a difficult matchup against a Rays lineup that consistently puts the ball in play. Colorado’s recent offensive improvement gives it a chance to remain competitive, but the pitching staff must avoid allowing Tampa Bay to build extended innings through hits, walks and stolen bases.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Colorado Rockies Picks and Prediction
Moneyline Pick:
- Tampa Bay Rays
I am taking Tampa Bay on the moneyline. The Rays enter with a 21-game advantage in the standings and have allowed significantly fewer runs over the full season. Tampa Bay also holds the stronger statistical profile in the scheduled pitching matchup, with Seymour carrying a 4.37 ERA compared with Lorenzen’s 6.54.
Colorado has won two straight games and possesses enough offense to make the Rays uncomfortable at Coors Field. However, the Rockies’ inability to prevent runs makes them difficult to support against a Tampa Bay club batting .257 with a .329 on-base percentage. The Rays should create enough opportunities against Lorenzen to justify the road-favorite price.
Total Pick:
- Over 11.0
I will take the over if the total is set at 11.0. Lorenzen’s 6.54 ERA creates a strong scoring opportunity for Tampa Bay, while Seymour’s 4.37 ERA makes it difficult to assume the Rays will completely control Colorado’s improving offense. The Rockies have scored 22 runs across their past three completed games and return to a venue where scoring can escalate rapidly.
Tampa Bay’s excellent team ERA introduces some risk, but the starting matchup and Colorado’s season-long run-prevention problems point toward offense. The Rockies have allowed 635 runs this season, and both clubs should have opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the total. My projected result is Tampa Bay 8, Colorado 5.
This game Preview was completed prior to play on Sunday.