The Tampa Bay Rays are set to host their divisional rival Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. New England Sports Network will televise the action and the game gets going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Red Sox have gone only 6-13 SU this year and are 3-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 15.4 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 15.3 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 14-5 SU and 14-4 ATS. They’ve gained 8.7 units for moneyline bettors and 10.5 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have a 6-11-1 over/under record thus far in 2019. Boston has an over/under record of 10-8-1.
The southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez is getting the start for Boston. Rodriguez (1-2, 7.98 ERA) has recorded 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Rays this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-0, 7.36 ERA and seven strikeouts over three and two-third innings).
The Rays are planning to start righty Ryne Stanek (0-0, 1.93 ERA), who has 13 punchouts and two walks to his credit, along with a 0.86 WHIP. Stanek only made one start against the Red Sox in 2018 (1-0, 5.40 ERA and two strikeouts across three and 1-third innings).
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have yielded 2.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 1.51, a WHIP of 0.83 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.8. The bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.2 K/9. In six divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 1.19 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.29.
The Tampa Bay offense has produced 5.0 runs per outing, including 6.2 per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .262/.342/.465 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by Austin Meadows and Tommy Pham. Meadows is slashing .364/.432/.697 with six home runs, 17 RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Pham is batting .286 with 20 hits, nine RBIs, 10 runs and six stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 6.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 6.70 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 7.90 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.15, along with a K-per-9 of 10.67.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .229/.302/.374 on their way to 4.1 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Left fielder J.D. Martinez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have led Boston’s offense. Martinez is slashing .352/.425/.592 with four home runs, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Bogaerts (.297/.387/.484) has produced two homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored.
The Red Sox have lost 10.8 units and are 2-10 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in six of those games, as opposed to five that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 4.0 units and are 4-0 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in zero of those games, as opposed to four which went under the total.
Red Sox vs. Rays MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in only two of Boston’s last seven games.
- The Red Sox have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 19 over their last 10.
- The Red Sox have a total OPS of .676 this season and an OPS of .663 against right-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS stands at .797 overall and .820 versus righties.
- Tampa Bay has posted 28.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 23.2 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have dropped four of their last five games SU.
