The Boston Red Sox will be taking on their division rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. New England Sports Network will be televising the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Tampa Bay (+120) as the underdog to Boston (-130). Bettors can gamble on the games total with odds sitting at -120 for over 7 runs and even money (+100) for under 7. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the odds standing at +115 for the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -135 for the Rays +1.5.
The Rays are 22-24 SU and 23-22 ATS. They’ve lost 0.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.1 units against the spread (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Red Sox are 33-15 SU and have gone 24-23 ATS. In total, the teams gained 9.4 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 0.4 units ATS. Bostonhas covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 23-20-2 so far in 2018. Red Sox games have gone under 23 times, gone over 22 times and pushed on two occasions.
Left-hander David Price is projected to start for the visiting Red Sox. Price is 4-4 with a 4.38 ERA and 46 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with 15 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays are turning to righty Chris Archer (3-3, 5.01 ERA), who has 57 strikeouts and 19 walks to his name as well as a 1.35 WHIP. Archer is 0-0 with six strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA over one starts against Boston this year.
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.87 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.48, along with a K-per-9 of 9.94.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.333/.464 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game this year, including 5.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the teams last five contests (4-1 SU).
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led Boston’s hitters. Betts is slashing .368/.439/.772 with 16 home runs, 35 RBIs, 49 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Martinez has a .343 average with 15 homers, 41 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
Martinez did not do as well hitting against righties on the road last year. Over 177 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .255/.299/.588 (his overall season line was .303/.376/.690).
For the home team, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.6 runs per game overall this year. The teams starters have an ERA of 4.34, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.2. The bullpen has a 4.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 22 games against AL East foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.89 and the bullpens ERA is 4.88.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .266/.347/.452 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Rays batters have been led by first baseman C.J. Cron and third baseman Matt Duffy. Cron is hitting .272/.325/.494 with 11 home runs, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored, and Duffy’s line sits at .321/.362/.427 with 42 hits, 14 RBIs and nine runs scored.
The Red Sox have gained 11.3 units and are 21-16 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 18 of those games, compared to 17 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 4.2 units and are 11-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in seven of those games, as opposed to eight which went under the total.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Red Sox have won five of their last six games SU.
- Tampa Bay has recorded 23.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 23.6 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
