The Tampa Bay Rays will head north to face their AL East rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will be showing the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
The Red Sox are 11-15 straight up (SU) and 8-18 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 13.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.0 units ATS. The Rays are 16-9 SU and have gone 16-9 ATS. Overall, the club has accumulated 2.5 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season and 6.9 units ATS.
Boston games have had an over/under record of 15-10-1 so far in 2019. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 11-13-1.
The right-handed Charlie Morton is the projected starter for Tampa Bay. Morton is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 34 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with nine strikeouts and a 7.50 ERA against Boston this year.
The Red Sox are turning to lefty David Price (1-1, 3.75 ERA), who has 30 punchouts and five walks, in addition to a 1.04 WHIP. Price is 0-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Boston’s pitchers have given up 5.7 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have a 5.91 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.84 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 10.5 K/9. In 11 games against AL East opponents, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 4.29 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.95.
The Boston offense has produced 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .263/.382/.413 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Left fielder J.D. Martinez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have paced the Red Sox hitters this year. Martinez is slashing .340/.423/.526 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored, and the line for Bogaerts stands at .283/.368/.478 with four homers, 14 RBIs and 17 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.2 runs per game and its starters own a 2.14 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 10.13 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.98, along with a WHIP of 0.91.
Rays hitters have slashed .262/.343/.452 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been paced by Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows, who’ve collectively blasted 10 home runs. Pham is slashing .304/.420/.457 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 runs and six stolen bases, while Meadows (.351/.422/.676) is up to six homers, 19 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
The Rays have gained 1.9 units and are 4-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 7.3 units and are 7-11 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 10 of those games, compared to seven that went under the total.
Rays at Red Sox Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven outings.
- The Rays have an OPS of .795 this season and an OPS of .734 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Red Sox’ OPS stands at .714 overall and .711 against southpaws.
- Boston has recorded 19.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 23.2 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Red Sox have hit 11 over their last 10.
