The Tampa Bay Rays will be taking on their divisional rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will televise the action. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Tampa Bay (+190) is entering this game as the underdog against Boston (-210) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at Rays +1.5 runs (-115) and Red Sox -1.5 runs (-105).
The Red Sox are 87-36 straight up (SU) and 74-48 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 33.7 units for moneyline bettors and 26.5 units (ATS). Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. On the other hand, the Rays have gone 62-60 SU this year and are 66-55 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 7.8 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 12.9 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven.
Red Sox games have had an over/under record of 56-61-5 in 2018. Tampa Bay has been a great under bet with a total record of 51-67-3.
Tyler Glasnow will get the start for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Glasnow is 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Red Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Red Sox are putting the ball in the hands of lefty David Price (12-6, 3.75 ERA), who has 134 punchouts and 39 walks, as well as a 1.20 WHIP. Price is 1-1 with 24 strikeouts and a 2.10 ERA over four starts against Tampa Bay this year.
Boston’s pitching staff has yielded 3.7 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.56, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.6. The bullpen has a 3.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 9.7 K/9. In 59 games against AL East foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 3.68 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.88.
Boston’s offense is putting up 5.5 runs per contest, including 5.7 per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .257/.330/.443 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Red Sox batters have been led by J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts. Martinez is hitting .333/.403/.661 with 37 home runs, 105 RBIs and 90 runs scored, while Betts has produced a line of .350/.437/.665 with 27 homers, 64 RBIs, 100 runs and 24 stolen bases.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.24 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.84, along with a WHIP of 1.20 and a K-per-9 of 8.20.
Rays hitters have slashed .253/.328/.393 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith continue to lead Tampa Bay’s hitters. Duffy is slashing .294/.353/.373 with four home runs, 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored, while Smith (.301/.374/.426) is up to two homers, 29 RBIs, 48 runs and 26 stolen bases.
The Rays have gained 8.3 units and are 22-13 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 11 of those games, compared to 23 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Red Sox have netted 33.1 units and are 59-34 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 42 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in three of Boston’s last seven games.
- The Red Sox have won six of their last seven games SU.
- Tampa Bay has posted 18.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.6 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Red Sox have hit 17 over their last 10.
