The Tampa Bay Rays will head north to face their divisional rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network is in line to broadcast the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Boston (-160) is favored against Tampa Bay (+150) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at nine runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). You can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds sitting at -145 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +125 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Rays have gone 10-13 SU this year and are 12-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.8 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season, despite having gained 2.6 units ATS. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 19-5 SU and 13-10 ATS. They’ve gained 12.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.8 units ATS.
Red Sox games have had an over/under record of 12-10-1 so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has been a decent over bet with a total record of 15-7.
Southpaw Blake Snell is projected to start for the visiting Rays. Snell is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 32 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Boston this year (two starts).
The Red Sox are turning to lefty Drew Pomeranz (0-0, 7.36 ERA), who has seven strikeouts and two walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.91. Pomeranz hasn’t faced the Rays yet this year, but he made four starts against them in 2017, posting a 2-1 record with a 5.12 ERA.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.70 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 8.76 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.78, along with a WHIP of 1.32 and a K-per-9 of 8.29.
Rays hitters have slashed .260/.336/.394 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 8.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been powered by second baseman Daniel Robertson and second baseman Joey Wendle. Robertson is slashing .346/.493/.558 with 18 hits, six RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Wendle (.338/.405/.508) has produced 22 hits, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored.
For the home team, Boston’s pitchers have given up 3.0 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starters have an ERA of 2.67, a WHIP of 1.07 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.5. The bullpen has a 3.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 16 games against divisional foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 2.55 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.45.
The Boston offense has put up 5.7 runs per outing, including 5.6 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .176/.249/.273 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led the Red Sox hitters so far. Betts is slashing .329/.420/.706 with eight home runs, 17 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Martinez’s line sits at .306/.351/.565 with five homers, 18 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .264/.344/.459, Betts seemed to enjoy hitting lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .358/.421/.567 over 76 such plate appearances.
The Rays have lost 1.9 units and are 6-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 0.6 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in one of those games, as opposed to three which went under the total.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in only one of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- Tampa Bay has recorded 28.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 34.2 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
