The Boston Red Sox will welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Fenway Park in the 1 game of an AL East doubleheader. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET and New England Sports Network will be showing the action.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Las Vegas has Tampa Bay (+145) as the underdog to Boston (-155). If you’re thinking the game’s total is going to go under 9.5 runs, then Vegas is putting up -105 odds. Picking the over will return -115 odds. There’s a runline of Rays +1.5 (-150) and Red Sox -1.5 (+130) for this matchup.
The Red Sox are 33-30 straight up (SU) and 27-35 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.0 units for moneyline bettors and 11.2 units ATS. The Rays are 38-23 SU and have gone 35-25 ATS. In total, the club has gained 3.1 units for moneyline bettors and 8.5 units ATS.
Red Sox games have had an over/under record of 35-25-2 so far in 2019. Tampa Bay has been a decent under bet with a total record of 25-31-4.
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough is getting the nod for the visiting Rays. Yarbrough is 4-2 with a 6.23 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with six strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Boston this year.
The Red Sox will send righty Josh Smith (0-1, 4.91 ERA) to the mound. Smith has six strikeouts and two walks as well as a WHIP of 1.36. Smith hasn’t faced the Rays yet this year and did not appear in the majors in 2018.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.24 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.36, along with a K/9 of 8.77.
The Rays offense has slashed .260/.338/.440 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been led by outfielders Avisail Garcia and Tommy Pham. Garcia is slashing .304/.360/.529 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, 32 runs and six steals, while Pham is hitting .289 with eight homers, 25 RBIs, 26 runs and six stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitchers have given up 4.7 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.62, a WHIP of 1.26 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.4. The bullpen has a 4.04 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. In 24 games against divisional foes, Red Sox starters have an ERA of 4.26 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.40.
The Boston hitters have produced 5.4 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .267/.338/.455 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have paced the Red Sox hitters this year. Devers is slashing .311/.372/.502 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 47 runs and eight stolen bases, while Bogaerts has put up a line of .301/.381/.534 with 12 homers, 41 RBIs and 50 runs scored.
The Red Sox have lost 7.4 units and are 6-12 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 10 of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers.
Rays vs. Red Sox Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in just two of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- Boston has recorded 26.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.2 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
- The Rays have an OPS of .778 this season and an OPS of .793 against right-handed pitchers. The Red Sox’ OPS stands at .783 overall and .787 against righties.
