Boston Red Sox (23-24) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (25-23)
May 20, 2024 6:50 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -111 / Boston Red Sox -106; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays meet Monday in MLB game 1 action at Tropicana Field. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Prediction.
Boston Red Sox Betting Preview
The Boston Red Sox look to get to a .500 record after losses to the Rays and Cardinals. The Boston Red Sox have scored 19 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 5 of their last 9 games. The Boston Red Sox have won 8 of their last 10 games when scoring 4 or more runs. Jarren Duran leads the Boston Red Sox with 52 hits and 19 RBI, while Connor Wong and Rafael Devers have combined for 79 hits and 37 RBI.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays are 25-23 on the year and are coming off wins over the Red Sox and Blue Jays. The Tampa Bay Rays have scored 11 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 8 of their last 9 games. The Tampa Bay Rays have won 10 of their last 12 games when scoring 4 or more runs. Isaac Paredes leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 50 hits and 26 RBI, while Yandy Diaz and Amed Rosario have combined for 94 hits and 43 RBI.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Pitching Matchup
Tanner Houck gets the ball for the Boston Red Sox, and he is 3-5 with a 2.17 ERA and 57 strikeouts this season. Houck has allowed 17 hits and 7 earned runs in his last 18.2 innings. Houck has a 1.88 ERA and .205 allowed batting average in 24 road innings. Houck is 0-4 with a 5.91 ERA and 27 strikeouts in his career against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Taj Bradley gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 13 strikeouts this season. Bradley has allowed 8 hits and 3 runs through 11 innings this season. Bradley has a 5.29 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through 115.2 career innings. Bradley is 3-0 with a 4.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his career against the Boston Red Sox.
Why the Boston Red Sox will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Rays’ last five games.
- The Rays have lost each of their last four games as favorites against American League opponents following a loss.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the last six games between the Red Sox and Rays.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games as favorites against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last eight games as favorites against American League opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four home games against the Red Sox.
- Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Rays’ last four games against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
- Yandy Diaz has scored a run in each of his last six appearances with the Rays as favorites against the Red Sox.
- Harold Ramirez has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Harold Ramirez has recorded at least one Double in each of his last three home appearances against the Red Sox.
- Harold Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Harold Ramirez has recorded at least one Single in eight of his last nine appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Jose Caballero ranks 3rd in the league in Steals (17) this season.
Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts
- Rafael Devers has hit a home run in each of the Red Sox’s last five games.
- Rafael Devers has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Red Sox’s last five games.
- Rafael Devers has scored at least one run in each of the Red Sox’s last seven games.
- Connor Wong has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- Rafael Devers has recorded at least one Double in three of his last four appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Connor Wong has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- Trevor Story has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight appearances against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Tyler O’Neill ranks T7th in the league in Home Runs (11) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tampa Bay Rays rank 29th in the league for home runs allowed this season (62).
- The Tampa Bay Rays are one of only 4 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both strikeouts and walks allowed this season.
- The Boston Red Sox rank 2nd in the league for doubles this season (89).
- The Boston Red Sox rank 2nd in the league for triples this season (12).
Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays are playing the better baseball, and they’ve won 8 of the last 10 games against the Red Sox. The Rays should be favored. However, the Boston Red Sox have the more trustworthy starting pitcher, as Tanner Houck has been dealing this season and has had some of his best efforts on the road. Taj Bradley will make just his third start of the season, and he hasn’t been great throughout his career, with an ERA well over 5. Near pick em prices, I’ll side with the better starting pitcher and take the Red Sox in game 1 on the road.
