Boston will try to be nasty hosts on Monday when the Tampa Bay Rays pay a visit to Fenway Park.

It's a pitching duel between Ryan Dempster for the Red Sox (0-1 on the year) and Jeremy Hellickson for Tampa Bay (0-1 so far).



View Tampa Bay vs Boston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Boston was a -130 moneyline favorites earlier in the day at Sportsbook, based on the starting pitcher matchup. That pairing made odds makers at Sportsbook settle on an Sportsbook over under number of 8.5.

Power Rankings:
This game puts the Red Sox, most recently No. 3 in the American League Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings, up against the Rays, who rate an American League No. 11 in the latest survey.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Boston's No. 4-rated American League offense, averaging 4.8 runs per game, against a Rays defense that ranks No. 9 in the American League at 4.6 in runs allowed per game. The Red Sox have averaged 8.9 hits per game so far, more than Rays batters have averaged on the year (6.6 hits per game).

Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping factors and Boston has the American League's No. 1-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Rays own the American League's No. 9 mark in runs allowed.

Last time out for Tampa Bay, they were a 5-0 loser as they battled the Red Sox on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Red Sox at -133 were rewarded, while the 5 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Rays were shut out in their last start, struggling to get much going against the Boston staff and losing 5-0 to the Red Sox on Sunday at Fenway Park.




Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Baltimore are 5-5
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4

Boston Red Sox Trends:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Cleveland are 5-5
After playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After a win are 4-6

A few Rays at Red Sox trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay


Next up:
Tampa Bay at Baltimore, Tuesday, April 16
Boston at Cleveland, Tuesday, April 16