Divisional Rivalry Continues
There is always one series a year between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, which seemingly sets the course for each team, and it could come early this season. Last summer, the Rays had a three-game sweep to claim the AL East division lead that they would carry through to the end of the season.
Let’s check the latest MLB Picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB Odds for Red Sox vs Rays. We’ve plenty of MLB Predictions.
Boston Needs This
It’s been a tough go for the Boston Red Sox, who are 7-7. Though with a 4-3 win on Friday, it’s the second straight series they’ve won the opening game. Now they search for their second series win. They already covered as underdogs and the under hit. Doing so a second time, again as underdogs, would give them a boost.
They will deploy a Rays-esque strategy with Garrett Whitlock opening. The right-hander is a high-leverage reliever whose versatility is a strength. He has allowed one run in 9.2 innings this season with 11 strikeouts. He’s earned a win, and a save in four appearances, with this becoming his first start. He’ll look to limit a Tampa Bay Rays offense that is seventh in runs per game at 4.73 per game and top-10 in average and OPS.
Tampa Bay To Score Early and Often
The Tampa Bay Rays are 7-7, too. In those seven wins, they are averaging 6.7 runs per game compared to 2.3 runs per game in their seven losses.
When J.P. Feyereisen pitched on Easter against the Chicago White Sox, he took the mound with a four-run lead as the Rays were patient at the plate and let Vince Velasquez work himself into trouble. There are no guarantees that’ll happen against Whitlock, but they need to attack the fastball in hitters’ counts.
Albeit in a loss, Wander Franco led off with a solo home run Friday night. He’s hitting .393 with seven doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, and 11 runs scored. He can set the tone, and the dome could get rocking in a hurry with Randy Arozarena and Co. behind him.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Head-to-Head
Over the last 10 games, the underdog has won outright six times, with four of those being the Red Sox. The over/under in those meetings is 5-5.
Pull apart the four-game series, the Red Sox won in the playoffs, and Boston is 4-2, three times as underdogs, and the under hit four times in six regular season games.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays game information
- Game: Boston Red Sox (7-7) at Tampa Bay Rays (7-7)
- Location: Tropicana Field
- Time/Day: 6:10 p.m. ET on Saturday
- Live Stream: MLB TV
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Betting Lines
The Boston Red Sox are again underdogs at +112 on the moneyline and +1.5 runs (-190) with an over/under of 7.5. The Rays are favorites at -122 and are +160 to cover 1.5 runs.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
The opener strategy to bet on MLB is sometimes difficult to bet against because it’s hard to predict what will happen offensively with smaller sample sizes against relievers. It’s a great strategy that has worked for the Tampa Bay Rays for years, and now a former Rays executive, Chaim Bloom, is using it more with the Boston Red Sox.
In his rookie season and briefly into this season, left-handed hitters are hitting Whitlock. They have a .288 average and .795 OPS with 27 strikeouts in 111 at-bats. He’s been lights out against righties, though, and can set the tone early by retiring Franco.
One thing to watch for Boston is the usage of their bullpen with this strategy for MLB picks. They had some high-leverage situations, including Matt Barnes entering to secure the final out Friday night with the bases loaded.
In 39 appearances since the Rays acquired Feyereisen, he’s been lights out. He has a 2.14 ERA in 42 innings with a 4-2 record and three saves. Against Boston, he’s held hitters to a 3-for-21 mark.
Boston’s offense isn’t fully clicking yet, averaging 3.86 runs per game. Still, it won’t be long before newly acquired infielder Trevor Story, veteran J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers break out of their slumps.
