Red Sox vs Rays Prediction 7/18/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Red Sox vs Rays prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, July 18th at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Boston Red Sox Betting Preview

The Boston Red Sox are 48-48 this year after they won the first two games in this series by scores of 10-0 and 5-3. In game two, Boston blew an early 3-2 lead, but they scored the last two runs to get the win. The Red Sox recorded eight hits and they committed two errors in the game, while they were led by Abreu, who went 2-4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Rivera allowed three earned runs over 2.1 innings, while Weissert got the win and Chapman picked up the save. Prior to this series, Boston swept the Mets in three games and swept the White Sox in three games. 

This season, Boston has a 3.55 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and a .236 opponent batting average, while they have scored 400 runs with a .245 batting average and a .315 on base percentage. Willson Contreras has led the Red Sox with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs, while Jarren Duran has added 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Boston is Patrick Sandoval, who is 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 4.1 innings pitched this year. 

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 56-40 this season after they lost game two by a score of 3-5 on Friday night. Tampa Bay led 2-0 in the first inning and they were tied at three in the third, but they went scoreless over the last six innings for the loss. The Rays recorded seven hits in the game and they were led by DeLuca, who went 2-4 with two RBIs. Englert allowed eight hits and five earned runs over 5.0 innings for the loss, while Sulser threw a scoreless inning in relief. Prior to this series, Tampa Bay won two out of three against the Mariners and split four games with the Yankees. 

This season, Tampa Bay has a 3.88 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a .235 opponent batting average, while they have scored 428 runs with a .257 batting average and a .332 on base percentage. Jonathan Aranda has led the Rays with 14 home runs and 64 RBIs, while Junior Caminero has added 29 home runs and 60 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Ian Seymour, who is 6-2 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over 64.2 innings pitched this season. 

Why the Boston Red Sox will win

• The Red Sox have won each of their last 12 games against American League opponents.
• The Rays have lost each of their last six road games against AL East opponents.
• The Red Sox have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against American League opponents.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six road games against AL East opponents.
• The Red Sox have led after 3 innings in each of their last six games as favorites against American League opponents.
• The Red Sox have led after 5 innings in each of their last 12 games against American League opponents.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

• The Red Sox have lost nine of their last 13 games as favorites against American League opponents following a home win.
• The road team has won 11 of the Red Sox’s last 13 games.
• The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six Saturday games as home favorites against AL East opponents.
• The Rays have covered the run line in 12 of their last 15 games as underdogs against the Red Sox following a road loss.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last eight day games against AL East opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Rays’ last eight games as underdogs against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Red Sox’s last six games as favorites against the Rays have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in six of Patrick Sandoval’s last seven home appearances as a starter.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in five of the Rays’ last six day games against AL East opponents.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Patrick Sandoval has recorded five or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Ceddanne Rafaela has recorded at least one hit in 17 of his last 18 appearances in day games.
• Masataka Yoshida has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances in day games.
• Willson Contreras ranks 9th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.547) this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Junior Caminero has hit a home run in six of the Rays’ last nine road games against AL opponents.
• Ian Seymour has recorded seven or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances.
• Nick Fortes has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against the Red Sox after playing the previous day.
• Ian Seymour has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances.
• Junior Caminero ranks T3rd in the league in Home Runs (29) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Red Sox rank T29th in the league for home runs this season (90).
• The Red Sox rank 2nd in the league for runs allowed this season (361).
• The Rays rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (684).
• The Rays rank 2nd in the league for walks allowed this season (257).

Red Sox vs Rays Prediction 

Boston continued their winning streak by winning both games of the doubleheader on Friday and they are playing great baseball right now. The Red Sox are 19-27 at home this year, while the Rays are 21-25 on the road. Tampa Bay has lost three in a row and they have allowed 23 runs during that span. The Rays are starting Seymour, who has allowed eight earned runs over his last 8.2 innings, while Sandoval allowed one earned run over 4.1 innings in his first outing. Take the Red Sox to win again here.