The Boston Red Sox are squaring off against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. The action will get going at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to New England Sports Network.
Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox Odds
Boston (-150) is favored over Tampa Bay (+140) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this one at 9 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). You can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at -155 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +135 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Rays are 60-48 SU and are 56-52 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.0 units for moneyline bettors and 1.7 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 59-48 SU and 47-60 ATS. The team’s lost 16.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 18.5 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven.
Boston games have had an over/under record of 63-41-3 in 2019. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 46-55-7.
The right-handed Charlie Morton will get the start for the visiting Rays. Morton is 12-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 163 strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with 25 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA against Boston this year (three starts).
The Red Sox are putting the ball in the hands of lefty David Price (7-4, 3.66 ERA), who’s got 114 strikeouts and 27 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.19. Price is 1-2 with 35 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA across four starts against Tampa Bay this year.
As a unit, Boston’s pitching staff has yielded 5.1 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have an ERA of 4.75, a WHIP of 1.32 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.6. The bullpen has a 4.54 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 10.7 K/9. In 52 games against divisional opponents, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 4.77 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.49.
The Boston offense is putting up 5.9 runs per contest, including 5.8 per game against divisional foes and 9.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .354/.387/.677 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have led the Red Sox hitters this year. Devers is hitting .329/.381/.579 with 21 home runs, 82 RBIs and 86 runs scored, while Bogaerts is batting .316 with 23 homers, 81 RBIs and 85 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starters own a 3.29 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10.16 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.87, along with a K-per-9 of 9.05.
The Rays offense has slashed .253/.326/.427 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this year, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia continue to lead Tampa Bay’s offense. Pham is slashing .273/.373/.454 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, 50 runs and 12 steals, while Garcia (.273/.332/.435) has produced 13 homers, 46 RBIs, 43 runs and nine steals.
The Rays have lost 0.8 units and are 22-18 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 16 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 7.3 units and are 34-42 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 44 of those games, compared to 30 that went under the total.
Rays vs. Red Sox MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in four of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Rays have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- The Rays have an OPS of .754 this season and an OPS of .723 against left-handed pitchers. The Red Sox’ OPS sits at .825 overall and .785 against lefties.
- Boston has posted 30.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 36.0 over its last five.
- The Rays have won three of their last four games SU.
