The Tampa Bay Rays will be facing off against their division rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will broadcast the matchup and the game gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Vegas is listing Boston (+115) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-135). The total sits at 9 runs and bettors can wager on the over for even money (+100) or the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the current odds coming in at Rays +1.5 runs (+165) and Red Sox -1.5 runs (-175).
The Rays are 1-6 SU and have gone 5-2 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.5 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season, but have gained 2.5 units ATS. The Red Sox are 6-1 SU and 2-5 ATS. The team has gained 4.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 3.1 units ATS.
Boston games have a 2-5 over/under record so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 3-4.
The Rays have lost 3.0 units and are 2-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have netted 3.4 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to four that went under the total.
Jake Faria (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Faria recorded 84 strikeouts across 86 innings last year (with 31 walks) while finishing the season 5-4 overall with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
The BoSox are rolling with righty Rick Porcello (1-0, 1.69 ERA) as their starter. Porcello started 33 games last year and finished the season 11-17 overall with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He recorded six starts against the Rays a year ago and assembled a 2-4 record with a 3.93 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
As a unit, Boston’s pitching staff has yielded 2.3 runs per game overall this year. The teams starters have a 0.86 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 10.3 K/9. In five games against AL East foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 0.58 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.06.
Boston’s hitters have produced 3.4 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over their last five. The teams hit .244/.327/.368 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and right fielder Mookie Betts have led the Red Sox hitters this year. Bogaerts is slashing .344/.364/.625 with 11 hits, three RBIs and five runs scored, and Betts has produced a line of .346/.452/.500 with nine hits, one RBI and four runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.79 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.06, along with a WHIP of 1.30.
The Rays offense has not warmed up yet, slashing just .188/.265/.266 on its way to 2.4 runs scored per game this season, including over the teams last five contests (0-5 SU).
Daniel Robertson and Rob Refsnyder have led Tampa Bay’s hitters. Robertson is slashing .250/.538/.375 with two hits and zero RBIs, while Refsnyder is slashing .0/.556/.0 with zero hits and zero RBIs.
Refsnyder did not do as well hitting against right-handed pitchers on the road last season. Over 33 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .125/.152/.219 (his overall season line was .174/.253/.221).
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Red Sox went 11-8 SU against the Rays in 2017.
- The Rays bullpen managed an ERA of 2.91 against the Red Sox last year.
