Tampa Bay Rays (101-63) vs. Boston Red Sox (94-71)
October 10, 2021 4:07 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Red Sox -128 / Tampa Bay Rays +108; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox meet Sunday in MLB action for Game 3 of the ALDS at Fenway Park. The Rays jumped out to an early series edge after a shutout win in the opener, but the Red Sox evened it up with an eight-run victory in game two. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay notched two runs in the first inning of Thursday’s game one and held on for an eventual 5-0 win. In the Friday game the Rays blew an early 5-2 lead and ultimately lost 14-6. Starter Shane Bak lasted 2.1 innings with three earned on six hits and a walk.
For the game three starter job, the Rays will send out Drew Rasmussen. This season over 35 games (10 starts), Rasmussen put up a 4-1 record with a 2.84 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 76.0 innings of work.
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they had a massive offensive performance in the Friday game two, notching six runs over the final three frames along with 20 team hits. Starting pitcher Chris Sale only lasted 1.0 innings however, with five earned on four hits and a walk.
Starting pitcher for the Sunday matchup will be the Sox’ Nathan Eovaldi. Over his 32 regular-season starts this year Eovaldi put up an 11-9 record with a 3.75 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 182.1 innings of work.
The Rays are 5-0 in their last five after a loss and 4-1 in their last five Divisional Playoff games. Tampa is 9-3 in their last 12 after an off day and 46-18 in their last 64 versus the AL East.
Meanwhile, the Sox are 4-0 in their last four playoff home games and 5-1 in their last six overall. Boston is 10-2 in their last 12 playoff games and 2-6 in their last eight versus the AL East.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on Boston. Eovaldi had an ugly late-season outing (September 24) against the Yankees, posting seven earned on seven hits and two walks in 2.2 innings. He was able to bounce back in the Wild Card Game on October 5 however, holding the Yankees to one earned (a solo homer) on four hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. Eovaldi has just the one earned run in his last 11.1 innings along with eight hits, one walk and 15 Ks. I like him to keep it going here and put Boston in a promising spot for a home win.
