2020-09-12 18:40:00 EDT
The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Saturday in MLB action from Tropicana Field.
This will be the third installment of a four-game weekend set between these American League East squads. The Red Sox opened with a 4-3 win on Thursday. In the Friday game, the Rays peppered in the runs all night long on the way to an 11-1 victory to tie the series. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Red Sox had 11 hits in the Friday loss, but could only post a single run in the last inning. Four Boston batters had multiple hits, and Jackie Bradley plated the run. Matt Hall took the loss with 2.1 innings, six hits, four earned, two walks and two strikeouts.
For the Saturday starting pitcher role, the Red Sox are going with Nathan Eovaldi. Over his six starts this season, Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work. On his MLB career, Eovaldi is 48-56 with a 4.32 ERA and 743 Ks in 952.0 innings total.
Over on the Rays’ side, starting pitcher Blake Snell posted a win in the Friday game with 5.1 innings, five hits, no earned, two walks and five strikeouts. Nate Lowe led the team offensively with two homers, four RBI, three hits and three runs.
For Saturday’s starter job, the Rays will send out Tyler Glasnow. In his eight starts so far this year, Glasnow is 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 39.1 innings of work. On his MLB career, Glasnow is 12-18 with a 4.48 ERA and 358 Ks in 297.0 innings.
The Red Sox are 10-21 in the last 31 overall and 5-11 in their last 16 games as a road underdog. Boston is 17-40 in their last 57 versus the American League East and 15-36 in their last 51 games as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 8-0 in their last eight during game three of a series and 4-1 in their last five Saturday games. Tampa Bay is 23-8 in their last 31 overall and 38-14 in their last 52 home games.
Pick: I’m going to stick with the Rays here. Glasnow is a dominant starter right now, striking out 66 hitters in 39.1 innings so far. That means he’s tossing 15.1 Ks every nine innings and Tampa Bay is 6-2 in Glasnow’s 2020 starts. Boston has had a few pretty good hitters emerge this season, but I don’t think the Sox will be able to keep up with the Rays’ talented pitching staff on most days.
