Rays vs. Rockies Prediction, MLB Picks for Wednesday, August 5

August 5, 2026

MLB
AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim
Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero runs the bases during a game against the Minnesota Twins.

The first pitch of the matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays (67-46) and the Colorado Rockies (45-69) is set for 3:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 5, with the Rays favored and returning a 1.56x payout to win, via PrizePicks.

Tuesday night’s game was a thriller that could not be contained within 9 innings. SP Freddy Peralta struggled in his Rays debut, allowing 7 earned runs over 3.2 innings. The bullpen kept the Colorado bats quiet, allowing Tampa Bay to mount a comeback, including 2 runs in the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

The Rays scored 2 runs in the 11th and went on to win 9-7. It’s now a matinee for the series finale, with the Rays going for the sweep in Colorado.

Below, we'll break down our Rays vs. Rockies prediction and picks for Wednesday’s MLB matchup, including the run line, over/under, and key player picks for PrizePicks.

Make your Rays vs. Rockies prediction on PrizePicks for today’s game.

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Rays vs. Rockies Prediction, Winner Payout, Over/Under – Wednesday, August 5

The Rays will start Nick Martinez (4.68 xFIP in 123.1 IP, 21 starts) in the finale. Martinez has been one of the Rays’ top starters, leading the rotation with a 2.77 ERA and 3.0 WAR. 

Before this year, Martinez was a journeyman, playing for three MLB teams in his first eight seasons and spending four years in Japan. He entered this campaign with a 48-59 career record with a 4.16 ERA. However, he’s now put up career bests and made his first All-Star team. 

The catalyst for this breakout effort could be that Martinez is using his changeup much more. He’s throwing it on 27.3% of pitches, up from 19.3% in 2025. It’s been highly effective, with batters posting a .143 BA and a 33.9% whiff rate against it.

Martinez has helped the Rays make a charge in the standings in recent weeks, with them going from 3.5 games behind first place in the American League East to 3.5 games ahead. 

Despite having the best record in the AL, Tampa Bay was active at the trade deadline. The Rays upgraded their pitching by acquiring RP Tyler Wells from the Orioles and SP Freddy Peralta from the Mets while bolstering their lineup by adding C/DH Liam Hicks from the Marlins.

The Rockies will counter with SP Tomoyuki Sugano (4.87 xFIP in 102.2 IP, 19 starts) in this Wednesday matinee. In what is a mess of a starting rotation in Colorado, Sugano is the best they have, being the only starter with a sub-5.00 ERA.

His 11 wins are seven more than any other Rockies starter. However, the most shocking stat is that he’s better at home in Denver’s high altitude, owning a 3.78 ERA compared to a 5.13 mark on the road.

This organization has been among the league’s worst over the last few years and entered 2026 with three consecutive 100+ loss seasons. It might be on its way to another one with the worst record in the NL. 

Rays vs. Rockies Winner Payout, Over/Under – Wednesday, August 5

The Rays enter Wednesday’s game as road favorites, returning a 1.56x payout if they win outright, via PrizePicks Team Picks.

Here are the full payouts for the Rays vs. Rockies game on PrizePicks.

Win Spread Over/Under
TB Rays 1.56x -1.5 | 1.85x o11.5 | 1.85x
COL Rockies 2.27x 1.5 | 1.85x u11.5 | 1.88x
Play the Rays vs. Rockies spread or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money — available in 36 states!

Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.


Rays vs. Rockies Prediction on Winner – 8/5/26

Here are the key game stats and trends behind our Rays vs. Rockies prediction on the winner for Wednesday, August 5.

Lock in your Rays vs. Rockies prediction on PrizePicks now.

Unless otherwise noted, data used in this article is from Baseball Savant or FanGraphs.

  • Martinez has some weaknesses, including a 17.8% whiff rate that ranks only in the sixth percentile, but the Rockies may not exploit them given their 26.2% whiff rate, which ranks 21st.
  • Sugano struggles to generate swings and misses (18.1% whiff rate, fourth percentile). Now he must face the Rays, whose 23.7% whiff rate is the league’s lowest.
  • Martinez does well at keeping opposing hitters quiet, allowing a 32.6% hard-hit rate that sits in the 86th percentile. That’s another area where the Rockies struggle; their 36.3% hard-hit rate is 27th in MLB.
  • In Sugano’s one start against the Rays, he allowed 7 earned runs over 5 innings.
  • The Rockies' 23-48 record against teams over .500 is the third-worst in the league.

Rays vs. Rockies Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks: 8/5/26

Here are the top Rays vs. Rockies picks to target on Wednesday, August 5. Today’s MLB picks for PrizePicks include Junior Caminero and Hunter Goodman.

Rays 3B Junior Caminero vs. Rockies: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI

  • Caminero is having his best season, as his .280 xBA, .521 xSLG, and .393 wOBA are all career highs.
  • Sugano allows a 44.6% hard-hit rate, which ranks in the 11th percentile. Caminero can smash a baseball, evidenced by his 51.0% hard-hit clip that sits in the 92nd percentile.
  • Caminero has been red hot in this series, going 4-for-11, with 2 home runs and 3 RBI.
  • Sugano throws his sinker on 25% of his pitches to right-handed hitters, more than any other pitch. Caminero demolishes sinkers, with his .366 BA and .699 SLG against it being better than any other type. Additionally, his 54.9% hard-hit rate versus sinkers is his second-highest.
Add Junior Caminero to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

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Rockies C Hunter Goodman vs. Rays: 6.5 Hitter Fantasy Score

  • In Goodman’s one lifetime at-bat against Martinez, he has a double.
  • Martinez is allowing a 7.4% barrel rate that ranks only in the 52nd percentile. This is where Goodman excels: his 16.9% barrel rate is in the 96th percentile.
  • Martinez throws the sinker to right-handed hitters more than any other pitch (38%). Goodman demolishes the sinker, posting a .796 SLG, .511 wOBA, and 48.7% hard-hit rate when facing it.
  • Goodman has an excellent .465 xSLG, which ranks in the 84th percentile. Martinez is allowing a .445 xSLG, which is above the league-average of .407.
Add Hunter Goodman to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

Make Rays vs. Rockies Picks on PrizePicks

With the Rays making moves at the trade deadline, they could be ready to make a deep playoff run. They will try to flex their muscles as they look to pull out the brooms and sweep the Rockies on Wednesday.

Don’t wait until the first pitch happens — make your Rays vs. Rockies picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on MLB game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.

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John is a graduate from Quinnipiac University with a Master's Degree in Sports Journalism. With almost 15 years working in radio, TV and blogs, it includes stops at ESPN, NBC Sports, and Audacy. Along with being an avid sports fan, he is into fitness and cooking.