The Tampa Bay Rays will send an actual starting pitcher to the mound as they look to avoid the sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. And luckily for the Rays, southpaw Blake Snell will be getting the start at Tropicana Field, where he has a 1.07 ERA in four starts this season. In addition, Snell has flourished against the Red Sox this season with a 1.38 ERA in two appearances vs Boston.
- Six of Boston’s 8 wins vs the Rays this season have come by 1 run.
- Xander Bogaerts is slashing .405/.435/.762 in 42 at-bats vs the Rays this season.
- The Rays have lost their last 5 games at home while being outscored 13-6.
The Red Sox will counter with Rick Porcello, who has already seen the Rays three times this season. Those three starts – all of which the Red Sox won – saw Porcello post a solid 3.10 ERA with 17 strikeouts and just one walk. The righty has had some issues in his most recent outings, surrendering 13 runs across his past three starts.
The Red Sox and Rays have become very familiar with one another this season, as this will be the 13th time they have met already. As you would expect, the Red Sox have won nine of those 13 contests but beat the Rays by just one run in six of those victories. If the Rays can manage to provide some form of offense – they are slashing .232/.300/.384 vs the Red Sox this season – they have the chance to pull off the upset Thursday.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Tampa Bay was a +115 moneyline underdog earlier in the day at Sportsbook, based on the starting pitcher matchup. That pairing made oddsmakers at Sportsbook pick an Sportsbook OVER/UNDER number of 7.5.
Handicapping models based on recent betting stats and prediction formulas pick a 3.0-1.6 win for the Red Sox. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Tampa Bay (22-25) will face the 34-15 Red Sox in this tilt. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Tampa Bay vs Boston injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 13 (Tampa Bay) and the No. 10 (Boston) teams, according to our current MLB Power Rankings.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Tampa Bay has baseball's No. 16-rated offensive output, at 8.89 hits per game. Boston averages 9.47 hits per game, good for No. 1 on the list.
Comparing defensive stats, Boston owns the No. 2-rated road mark, allowing 3.15 runs per game on the highway. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, rates No. 22 in scoring at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Boston looks to continue its winning ways following a victory last time out against the Rays, a 4-1 final on Wednesday in support of David Price at Tropicana Field.
- Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
- Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
- Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Tampa Bay is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
- Tampa Bay is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
- Tampa Bay is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Tampa Bay is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Boston home to Atlanta, Friday, May 25
Tampa Bay home to Baltimore, Friday, May 25
