The red-hot Tampa Bay Rays are gunning for their sixth consecutive win as they play host to the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. New England Sports Network will be airing the action and the game will get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Red Sox have gone 90-39 SU this year and are 78-50 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 32.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 28.6 units ATS. Boston’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 67-61 SU and 69-58 ATS. The team’s gained 10.6 units for moneyline bettors and 12.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 53-71-3 in 2018. Red Sox games have gone under 63 times, gone over 59 times and pushed on six occasions.
The right-handed Hector Velazquez is the projected starter for the visiting Red Sox. Velazquez is 7-1 with a 2.74 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with eight strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA against Tampa Bay this year (two starts).
The Rays are putting the ball in the hands of Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.47 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and 16 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.07. Castillo is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start against Boston this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have a 3.73 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 56 games against divisional foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 4.82 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.70.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 4.1 runs per outing, including 3.8 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .304/.384/.423 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith. Duffy is slashing .295/.353/.370 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 44 runs scored, and Smith is hitting .307 with 115 hits, 31 RBIs, 50 runs and 27 stolen bases.
In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starters own a 3.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.45 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.30, along with a WHIP of 1.18 and a K/9 of 9.63.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.340/.461 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts continue to lead Boston’s offense. Martinez is slashing .333/.405/.655 with 38 home runs, 109 RBIs and 95 runs scored, while Betts (.340/.426/.639) has produced 27 homers, 64 RBIs, 103 runs and 24 steals.
The Rays have gained 4.3 units and are 47-43 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 41 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Boston has tallied 17 extra-base hits over its last five games. Tampa Bay has 13 XBH over its last five.
The Red Sox have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit six over their last 10.
Boston has posted 21.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 23.2 over its last five.
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