The Boston Red Sox will head south to face their division rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and New England Sports Network will broadcast the matchup.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Boston (-210) is the favorite over Tampa Bay (+190) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 7.5 runs (-125 for the under and +105 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds sitting at Red Sox -1.5 runs (-145) and Rays +1.5 runs (+125).
The Rays are 22-23 SU and 23-22 ATS. The teams lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors and 0.1 units against the spread (ATS). The Red Sox are 32-15 SU and have gone 24-23 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 9.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the seasons early going and 0.4 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 23-20-2 thus far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 22-23-2.
The southpaw Chris Sale is projected to start for the visiting Red Sox. Sale is 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA and 87 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with nine strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Tampa Bay this year (six starts).
The Rays are sending righty Jake Faria (3-2, 5.20 ERA) to the mound. Faria has 35 strikeouts and 21 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.31. Faria is 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 14.29 ERA in one start against Boston this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have yielded 4.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The clubs starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.27, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.2. The bullpen has a 4.55 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 21 divisional games, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.77 and the bullpens ERA is 5.12.
The Tampa Bay offense has produced 4.4 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .280/.351/.462 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and first baseman C.J. Cron have led the charge for the Rays batters so far. Robertson is hitting .273/.424/.473 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored, and Cron’s line is .278/.332/.506 with 11 homers, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.85 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.51, along with a WHIP of 1.19.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .270/.333/.465 on their way to 5.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 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 .365/.438/.760 with 15 home runs, 32 RBIs, 48 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Martinez (.343/.397/.680) is up to 15 homers, 41 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez had a little trouble hitting righties on the road last year, putting up a slash line of only .255/.299/.588 over 177 such plate appearances.
The Red Sox have gained 11.3 units and are 21-16 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 18 of those games, as opposed to 17 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 4.2 units and are 11-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in seven of those games, as opposed to eight which went under the total.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in three of Boston’s last seven games.
- The Red Sox have won four of their last five games SU.
- Tampa Bay has posted 23.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.8 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
