The red-hot Tampa Bay Rays are seeking their eighth win in a row as they play host to the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. New England Sports Network is in line to broadcast the action and the opening pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Boston (+105) is the underdog against Tampa Bay (-115) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this one at 8 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. The game’s runline odds stand at -200 for betting the Red Sox +1.5 runs and +170 for the Rays -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 69-61 straight up (SU) and 70-59 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 12.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.6 units (ATS). The Red Sox are 90-41 SU and have gone 79-51 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 32.0 units for moneyline bettors and 28.6 units ATS.
Tampa Bay games have a 54-71-4 over/under record in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 60-64-6.
Nathan Eovaldi is getting the nod for the visiting Red Sox. The right-handed Eovaldi is 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA and 69 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will turn to lefty Blake Snell (15-5, 2.07 ERA), who has 160 strikeouts and 51 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.01. Snell is 2-0 with 19 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA over three starts against Boston this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.70 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.68 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 58 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 4.72 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.65.
The Tampa Bay hitters are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .347/.423/.491 over its last five contests and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Matt Duffy has helped lead the Rays’ offense this year with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starters own a 3.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.49 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.32, along with a WHIP of 1.19.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.340/.458 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
J.D. Martinez has led Boston’s offense. Martinez is hitting .337/.407/.657 with 38 home runs, 110 RBIs and 96 runs scored.
The Rays are coming off a 5-1 win in the prior game of this series.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in three of Boston’s last seven contests.
- The Red Sox have hit four home runs in their last 10 games, including three over their last five.
- Boston has averaged 22.2 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 games and 24.4 over its last five.
