Joe Pisapia recommended confidently fading Rays pitcher Taj Bradley by betting the Braves team total over 4.5 runs (+money). Pisapia explained his betting strategy of targeting visiting offenses in Tampa's favorable hitting environment, underscored by recent performances of Braves hitters such as Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, and Bryan Reynolds showing promising signs of heating up. The favorable hitting scenario combined with Bradley’s matchup makes Atlanta a strong target to exceed their team total today.

Kenny G likes Tampa Bay Rays starter Taj Bradley to bounce back after an inconsistent start to the season. Bradley was strong against Colorado but had issues against Texas in his last outing, allowing four earned runs and two homers. Despite these hiccups, Bradley has recorded seven strikeouts in each of his starts, indicating his stuff remains strong. Kenny G points out this matchup is ideal for Bradley as he's facing a Braves lineup that's not only struggling offensively (20th in majors in runs scored, injury issues with Ronald Acuna Jr.) but also dealing with fatigue from a difficult travel situation following a rain delay in Philadelphia. He sees value on Tampa Bay at -115 due to Bradley’s bounceback potential and the Braves’ negative situation.

Drew Martin likes backing Rays pitcher Taj Bradley (24-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia) against his hometown team, the Braves. Highlighting the Rays' home-field advantage (their five wins this season have all come at home, specifically noting their minor-league ballpark environment favorable to their style of play), Drew emphasizes Bradley's elite fastball velocity (97-98 mph), solid finish last year, and strong underlying numbers this season despite allowing two home runs his last outing. Drew argues this is unlikely to repeat and notes that the Rays also possess the better overall lineup against right-handed pitching and a stronger bullpen. He suggests betting the Rays at the slight home favorite price (-110).

Greg Peterson recommends playing the Rays moneyline (-110) and the under at 8.5 runs in their matchup with Atlanta. Peterson cites Rays starter Taj Bradley's high strikeout upside, with 11.5 K/9 despite a couple of rough outings, as a key advantage. The matchup especially favors Tampa considering Braves pitcher Bryce Elder's subpar performance since 2024 (6.54 ERA, 1.7 HR/9). The Braves' offense, averaging just 3.1 runs per game entering Thursday, further supports the under. Peterson handicapped Tampa at -138 and the total at 8.2, indicating good betting value.

Dan Palyo supported Taj Bradley's prop over 5.5 strikeouts (+110 DraftKings). Bradley dominated in his initial outing against the Rockies, boasting a 30% K-rate, 0% BB% and a strong 15.4% SwStr%. Although the Rangers present a challenging and talented lineup, surrendering only a 19% strikeout rate vs righties thus far, Palyo believes Bradley's talent and excellent stuff justify the plus odds. He highlights the betting value on Bradley now, expecting odds on this talented pitcher to sharply adjust after continued success.

Guy Boston advised targeting unders in Tampa Bay vs Colorado, specifically highlighting the advantageous spot for Rays starter Taj Bradley. Bradley has historically pitched far better at home, drastically improving his performance whenever pitching in a familiar environment. Boston pointed to the Rockies' substantial struggles when playing away from elevation, noting their lack of consistent power and weak offensive ability on the road. Considering the low-scoring nature of recent Tampa Bay-Colorado games (3-2 and 2-1), he recommended an under or first-five under as a prudent betting angle, indicating strong confidence in Bradley's ability to keep Colorado's bats quiet.

JD Bets initially considered prop bets involving Rays pitcher Taj Bradley, noting how Bradley started extremely strong last year before a drastic decline from a potential Cy Young candidate to bottom-tier performer seemingly overnight. Given Bradley's highly inconsistent recent form, JD Bets ultimately recommended caution, advising against taking any prop bets related to Bradley or this game due to high unpredictability and risk, emphasizing responsible bankroll management.

Chris Morgan recommended Taj Bradley as a strong DFS pitcher on FanDuel, highlighting Bradley's marked improvements during his sophomore season. Bradley maintained a strong strikeout ability with a 10.04 K/9 rate while reducing his FIP to 4.09 and notably upping his groundball rate to 42%. He specifically mentioned that Bradley added a cutter this offseason aimed at reducing home runs allowed. Morgan noted the Rockies' mediocrity in power hitting, ranking merely 15th in home runs in 2024, and considered Bradley well-positioned to leverage these improvements against an opponent whose strength is not hitting homers.