The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays meet Saturday in MLB action at Tropicana Field. Here’s a Rays vs. Red Sox Prediction. This article will include a Rays vs. Red Sox Pick.
Boston Red Sox Betting Preview
The Boston Red Sox are 84-70 on the year and play the Guardians and Cubs next. The Boston Red Sox are batting .246 on the season, have a .321 OBP, and have a .401 slugging percentage. The Boston Red Sox pitching staff has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Ceddanne Rafaela leads the Boston Red Sox with 151 hits and 70 RBI, while Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras have combined for 267 hits and 155 RBI.
Payton Tolle gets the ball for the Boston Red Sox, and he is 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA and 166 strikeouts this season. Tolle is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 8 strikeouts in his career against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 93-60 on the year and play the Phillies and Yankees next. The Tampa Bay Rays are batting .260 on the season, have a .329 OBP, and have a .405 slugging percentage. The Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching staff has a 3.74 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Yandy Diaz leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 173 hits and 81 RBI, while Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero have combined for 331 hits and 133 RBI.
Freddy Peralta gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA and 146 strikeouts this season. Peralta is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 16 strikeouts in his career against the Boston Red Sox.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The home team has won seven of the Rays’ last eight games.
- The Red Sox have lost 17 of their last 21 games at Tropicana Field against teams that held a winning record.
- The Rays have covered the run line in six of their last seven games following a loss.
- The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games at Tropicana Field.
- The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last seven games at Tropicana Field.
- The Rays have led after 3 innings in three of their last four day games against AL opponents.
Why the Boston Red Sox will win
- The underdogs have won nine of the Red Sox’s last 10 games at Tropicana Field.
- The Rays have lost each of their last five games as favorites against the Red Sox following a loss.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 11 games as favorites against AL East opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in nine of the Red Sox’s last 10 games at Tropicana Field.
- The Red Sox have led after 5 innings in each of their last four day games.
- The Red Sox have led after 3 innings in each of their last five games against the Rays.
- The Red Sox have won the first inning in three of their last four day games against opponents that held a winning record.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight day games as favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Red Sox’s last eight day games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in seven of the last eight-day games between the Red Sox and Rays.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in six of the Red Sox’s last seven day games at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Cedric Mullins has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with his team as a home favorite against the Red Sox.
- Freddy Peralta has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances.
- Nick Fortes has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous home appearances against the Red Sox.
- Freddy Peralta has recorded eight or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts
- Payton Tolle has recorded seven or more strikeouts in five of his last six road appearances.
- Jahmai Jones has hit a home run in two of the Red Sox’s last three games against the Rays.
- Payton Tolle has recorded a win in each of his last four road appearances against AL opponents.
- Jarren Duran has recorded a hit in each of his last 12 appearances with the Red Sox as road underdogs against the Rays.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for batting average this season (.260).
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (1066).
- The Red Sox rank T1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (148).
- The Red Sox rank 3rd in the league for ERA this season (3.60).
Rays vs Red Sox Prediction
I’ve backed the Rays blindly a lot this season, especially at home where they’ve been ridiculous. I wouldn’t talk you off the ledge if leaning in that direction. However, the Red Sox have the edge on them overall, and that makes them worth a look as an underdog. Tolle has a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 143 innings. Peralta has a 4.67 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 158 innings. I’m going to grab the more favorable price with the sharper pitcher. Give me the Red Sox.