The Tampa Bay Rays are traveling north to take on their AL East rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will be airing the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Boston (-160) is the favorite over Tampa Bay (+150) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at -145 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +125 for the Red Sox -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 10-13 SU and have gone 12-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.8 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going, despite having gained 2.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 19-5 SU and 13-10 ATS. The team has gained 12.1 units for moneyline bettors and 3.8 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
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.
Blake Snell will get the nod for the visiting Rays. The southpaw 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 going with lefty Drew Pomeranz (0-0, 7.36 ERA), who has seven strikeouts and two walks to his name, as well as a 1.91 WHIP. Pomeranz has yet to face the Rays this year, but he made four starts against them in 2017, compiling a 2-1 record with a 5.12 ERA.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff 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 an ERA of 4.78, along with a K/9 of 8.29.
The Rays offense has slashed .260/.336/.394 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2018, 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 led 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) is up to 22 hits, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Boston’s pitching staff has given up 3.0 runs per game overall this year. The club’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 AL East foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 2.55 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.45.
The Boston hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per outing, including 5.6 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .176/.249/.273 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Red Sox batters have been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. Betts is hitting .329/.420/.706 with eight home runs, 17 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Martinez’s line is .306/.351/.565 with five homers, 18 RBIs and 14 runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .264/.344/.459, Betts performed well against lefty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .358/.421/.567 over 76 such plate appearances.
The Rays have lost 1.9 units and are 6-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. 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’s hit in one of those games, compared to three which went under the total.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
Tampa Bay has recorded 28.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests 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.
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