The Boston Red Sox will head south to Tropicana Field to face off against their division rival Tampa Bay Rays. New England Sports Network will be televising the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 67-61 straight up (SU) and 69-58 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 10.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.6 units (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have gone 90-39 SU this year and are 78-50 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 32.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 28.6 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 53-71-3 in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 59-63-6.
The right-handed Hector Velazquez will get the start for Boston. Velazquez is 7-1 with a 2.74 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with eight strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA against Tampa Bay this year (two starts).
The Rays will turn to Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.47 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and 16 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.07. Castillo is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start against Boston this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.73 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 56 divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 4.82 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.70.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 4.1 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .304/.384/.423 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith have led the Rays’ offense this year. Duffy is hitting .295/.353/.370 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 44 runs scored, and Smith’s line is .307/.377/.433 with 115 hits, 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 27 stolen bases.
For the visiting squad, Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.45 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.30, along with a WHIP of 1.18 and a K/9 of 9.63.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.340/.461 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game this year, including 5.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Boston’s offense has been sparked by J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts, who have combined to launch 65 home runs. Martinez is hitting .333/.405/.655 with 38 home runs, 109 RBIs and 95 runs scored, while Betts (.340/.426/.639) has produced 27 homers, 64 RBIs, 103 runs and 24 steals.
The Rays have gained 4.3 units and are 47-43 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 41 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
