The Boston Red Sox will be taking the field against their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays in a Monday showdown. New England Sports Network will broadcast the action and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Boston (+175) as the dog to Tampa Bay (-185). If you think the game’s total will go under 8.5 runs, bookmakers are currently offering -110 odds. Playing the over will return -110 odds. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at Red Sox +1.5 runs (-125) and Rays -1.5 runs (+105).
The Rays are 92-64 straight up (SU) and 79-76 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, gaining 1.2 units for moneyline bettors while earning 7.3 units ATS. Tampa Bay has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in six of those seven. The Red Sox are 81-74 SU and have gone 64-90 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 27.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 34.7 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have a 76-71-8 over/under record in 2019. The Red Sox have been a strong over bet with a total record of 86-65-3.
The right-handed Jhoulys Chacin is projected to start for the visiting Red Sox. Chacin is 3-11 with a 5.66 ERA and 93 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Rays will turn to lefty Blake Snell (6-7, 4.19 ERA), who has 140 punchouts and 35 walks, in addition to a 1.22 WHIP. Snell is 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against Boston this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have yielded 4.1 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.67 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 70 divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 3.58 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.29.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 4.8 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .246/.322/.401 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows have led the Rays’ batters this year. Pham is slashing .276/.372/.452 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, 75 runs and 23 stolen bases, while the line for Meadows stands at .289/.360/.561 with 32 homers, 88 RBIs and 80 runs.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.87 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.56 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.33, along with a WHIP of 1.37.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .268/.341/.467 on their way to 5.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Boston’s offense has been fueled by third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who collectively have belted 63 home runs. Devers is slashing .307/.359/.551 with 31 home runs, 112 RBIs and 123 runs scored, while Bogaerts is slashing .304/.380/.551 with 32 homers, 110 RBIs and 106 runs scored.
The Red Sox have lost 15.2 units and are 17-32 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 27 of those games, compared to 21 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.9 units and are 49-50 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 51 of those games, compared to 43 which went under the total.
Red Sox vs. Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in just one of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Red Sox have a total OPS of .808 this season, including an OPS of .788 against left-handed pitchers. The Rays’ OPS sits at .759 overall and .754 against lefties.
- Boston has posted 20.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.0 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
