Phillies vs Rays: Zack Wheeler has been a strikeout machine in 2025, and today he draws a juicy matchup against Tampa Bay. The Rays have been ice-cold at the plate and strike out at an above-average clip. With strong metrics and a history of success in similar spots, Wheeler is in position to deal.
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Last Month: 102-143-4 (+9.17u)
Last Week: 28-41 (+2.64u)
Phillies vs Rays Odds

Will there be some Wheeler magic down in Tampa this evening?
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Runline
Phillies: -1.5 (+140)
Rays: +1.5 (-160)
Total
Over: 8 (-104)
Under: 8 (-116)
Moneyline
Phillies: -119
Rays: +108
Phillies vs Rays Best Bet
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler takes on the Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field. So far this season, Wheeler owns a 3.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. His strikeouts per nine sit at a crisp 11.66, while he averages 8.14 putaways per start in 2025.
Today, the right-hander enters with an elite rating over at Batters-Box.com. In 18 starts with that elite tag, he has cleared this strikeout prop 72 percent of the time. When facing a lineup while holding an elite average hitter matchup strikeout percentage, Wheeler goes over this number 81 percent of the time. That includes a sample of 16 games.
Tampa brings a lineup that features zero elite-rated hitters, zero rated poorly, nine hitters above the league average strikeout rate, and three with a ground ball rate above league average. Over the past week, the Rays have posted a 21 percent strikeout rate while hitting .206 with a 65 wRC+.
Even with this one going down at the Yankees’ spring training facility, I believe Wheeler can get us to seven strikeouts against the Rays.
Best Bet: Zack Wheeler Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-155) odds via BetOnline
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