The Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on their divisional foe Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET and New England Sports Network will be showing the matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
The Red Sox are 7-1 SU and 2-5 ATS. The team has gained 4.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 3.1 units against the spread (ATS). The Rays have gone 1-7 SU this year and are 5-2 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 4.5 units for moneyline gamblers this year, but have gained 2.5 units ATS.
Red Sox games have had an over/under record of 2-5 thus far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 3-4.
The Rays have lost 1.4 units and are 3-1 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to two that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Red Sox have netted 3.4 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to four that went under.
The right-handed Andrew Kittredge (0-2, 3.18 ERA) will get the nod for Tampa Bay. Kittredge struck out 14 hitters in 15 innings last year (zero starts) while finishing the season 0-1 overall with a 1.76 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.
The BoSox will put the ball in the hands of lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who struck out 150 hitters across 137 innings last year (24 starts), while finishing the season 6-7 overall with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 2.4 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 1.28, a WHIP of 0.93 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 3.77 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. In six games against divisional opponents, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 1.17 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.58.
The Boston offense has produced 4.3 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game over its last five. The teams hit .255/.338/.406 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
The Red Sox hitters have been led by shortstop Xander Bogaerts and right fielder Mookie Betts. Bogaerts is slashing .371/.405/.743 with 13 hits, nine RBIs and seven runs scored, and the line for Betts stands at .345/.457/.517 with 10 hits, one RBI and six runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 6.09 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 7.41 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.86, along with a K-per-9 of 7.71.
Rays hitters have slashed .188/.256/.264 on their way to 2.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the teams last five outings (0-5 SU).
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and outfielder Denard Span have led Tampa Bay’s offense. Robertson is hitting .250/.538/.375 with two hits and zero RBIs, while Span has a .273 average with six hits, seven RBIs and two runs scored.
Span didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against lefties on the road in 2017. Over 63 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .274/.286/.355 (his total season line was .272/.329/.427).
Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Red Sox went 11-8 SU against the Rays last season.
- The Rays bullpen managed 2.91 ERA against the Red Sox last year.
