The Tampa Bay Rays will face their division rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will be televising the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Vegas is listing Tampa Bay (+187) as the underdog to Boston (-205). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -115 or the under for -105. You can also bet on the games runline with the most recent odds standing at -115 for the Rays +1.5 runs and -105 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Rays have gone 11-13 SU this year and are 13-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.6 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the season, despite having gained 3.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in six of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 19-6 SU and 13-11 ATS. They’ve gained 13.1 units for moneyline bettors and 2.4 units ATS. Boston has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Boston games have an over/under record of 13-10-1 so far in 2018. Rays games have gone over 16 times, gone under seven times and pushed on zero occasions.
Yonny Chirinos will get the nod for Tampa Bay. Chirinos is 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA and 21 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Boston this year.
The Red Sox are sending lefty David Price (2-2, 2.93 ERA) to the mound. Price has 23 strikeouts and 10 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.16. Price is 1-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.56 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.90 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.79, along with a K/9 of 8.33.
The Rays offense has slashed .262/.337/.402 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 7.8 per game over the teams last five outings (5-0 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and second baseman Joey Wendle. Robertson is slashing .364/.507/.636 with 20 hits, seven RBIs and 14 runs scored, while Wendle (.338/.405/.508) has produced 22 hits, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored.
For the home team, Boston’s pitching staff has given up 3.0 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 2.83, a WHIP of 1.09 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.4. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.13, a WHIP of 1.12 and a K/9 of 9.2. In 17 divisional games, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 2.79 and the bullpens ERA is 4.14.
The Boston offense has put up 5.6 runs per outing, including 5.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .216/.280/.339 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Red Sox batters have been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. Betts is slashing .341/.433/.727 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs and 27 runs scored, and Martinez’s line sits at .315/.357/.573 with five homers, 20 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Martinez performed well at home last year. Across 253 plate appearances, he slashed .355/.439/.820 (his total season line was .303/.376/.690).
The Rays have lost 1.9 units and are 6-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The overs hit in five of those games, compared to three that’ve hit the under against ies.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Tampa Bay has posted 29.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 33.0 over its last five.
- Both teams have hit 16 home runs over their last 10 games.
