The Boston Red Sox are 50-32 at home this season with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games at home. The Red Sox will try to use their home field advantage to win Game 3 this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Date/Time: : October 10, 2021, 4:07 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Fenway Park
- TV Coverage: MLBN
- Sportsbook Odds: Rays -112 | O/U 8.5 runs (Line History)
- Rays vs Red Sox Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Rays opened as -112 road favorites, but early action on the Red Sox flipped the line over to Boston -108. Tampa Bay is now going off at -102 while the total in Game 3 is set at 8.5 runs. The OVER is 9-2 in Boston’s last 11 home games against the Rays.
Starting Pitchers Analysis
Drew Rasmussen opened the season in the bullpen before being converted to a full time starter in August. Rasmussen has allowed on earned run or fewer in eight of his last nine starts and owns a 2.84 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 2021. The right-hander recorded a 2.30 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 15.2 innings against the Red Sox this season.
Nathan Eovaldi held the New York Yankees to just one run in 5.1 innings to help lead the Red Sox to a 6-2 win over the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game. Eovaldi finished the regular season with an 11-9 record, a 3.75 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Boston is 8-1 in Eovaldi’s last nine starts.
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Tampa Bay News & Notes
Tampa Bay knocked Chris Sale out of Friday’s Game 2 in just one inning, racking up four hits and five runs on Sale in the first inning including a grand slam home run from Jordan Luplow. The Rays appeared to be well on their way to a 2-0 series lead given that they were 73-3 during the regular season in the 76 games that they had at least a three-run lead in.
But that 5-2 lead didn’t last long. The Red Sox scored two runs in the third inning, four runs in the fifth and six more in the final three frames to roll to a 14-6 upset win as +130 underdogs. Tampa Bay was 62-38 in 100 games as a favorite prior to that loss.
Boston News & Notes
Boston racked up 20 hits including five home runs in the blowout win. Xander Bogaerts Alex Verdugo both had three hits and a home run. JD Martinez went 4-for-5 with a home run and Kike Hernandez tied a postseason record with five hits and a home run. Everything was working for this Red Sox offense.
The outstanding effort on offense overshadowed Boston’s brilliant bullpen work. Tanner Houck pitched five innings of one-run ball in relief of Sale to give the Red Sox a chance to get back in the game and eventually take the lead. Boston’s bullpen recorded a 3.99 ERA this season, down from a 5.79 ERA in 2020.
How Tampa Bay Will Win
The Rays had the American League’s best team ERA at 3.67 and had allowed four runs or less in each of their previous 17 games before Friday. Tampa Bay is averaging 5.5 runs per game in this series; that will be more than enough to win on most nights.
How Boston Will Win
Boston suddenly has home field advantage and the momentum heading into Sunday’s game. The Red Sox also have their best pitcher in 2021 on the mound. If Eovaldi pitches like he did against the Yankees, Boston has a great chance of taking a crucial 2-1 series lead.
Computer Pick: Rays ML (+100)
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Tampa Bay is 5-8 in its last 13 road games.
- Boston is 5-1 over its last 6 games.
- The UNDER is 8-3 in Boston’s last 11 games.
