Tampa Bay Rays vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Look to Secure Third Consecutive Series Win Against Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park

In the upcoming game at Fenway Park, the Tampa Bay Rays will be seeking their third consecutive series win as they face the Boston Red Sox. Ryan Pepiot with a 3-5 record and a 3.20 ERA will be on the mound for the Rays, while Lucas Giolito, with a 1-1 record and a 6.42 ERA, will be starting for the Red Sox. This prediction preview was written before Monday's game, with Boston and Tampa Bay splitting their last 10 meetings. The Rays are currently the betting favorites to come out with a win.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays -111 | Red Sox -102
• Spread: Rays -1.5 (+140) | Red Sox +1.5 (-165)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 53%.

Tampa Bay vs Boston Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have recently experienced success with series wins over Texas and Miami, resulting in their fourth win in their last six games. Currently sitting in second place in the AL East, 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees, they aim to close the gap with a win on Tuesday. The team averages 4.44 runs per game, ranking 12th in the league, with a .247 batting average (15th), .312 on base percentage (19th), and .394 slugging percentage (15th). Jonathan Aranda leads the team with a .320 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads in home runs and RBI. Defensively, the Rays give up 3.70 runs per game (eighth), with opponents batting .235 against them (13th). Their 3.52 ERA ranks seventh, and their 1.17 WHIP is fourth. In their current season, they have a 35-30 record and are ranked 12th in offense and eighth in defense.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox recently secured a series win against the New York Yankees after a tough series loss to the Los Angeles Angels. They currently rank fourth in the AL East standings, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by four games. Boston will aim to narrow this gap with a victory in their upcoming game on Tuesday. The team's offensive performance is noteworthy, averaging 4.83 runs per game, which ranks them sixth in the league. Their batting average of .254 and slugging percentage of .418 both place them sixth and fifth, respectively. Leading the team in batting average is Alex Bregman with .299, while Rafael Devers leads in home runs and RBI. On the defensive side, Boston is giving up an average of 4.64 runs per game, which is 23rd in the league. Their opponents have a batting average of .255 against them, ranking them 23rd. The team's ERA is 22nd at 4.10, with a 1.34 WHIP at 21st. In their last matchup, pitcher Giolito struggled, giving up eight hits and seven runs in 1.2 innings. Looking ahead, he holds a 2-1 record with a 2.70 ERA in eight games against Tampa Bay. Additionally, the Boston Red Sox hold a power ranking of 15 and are ranked sixth in offense and 23rd in defense. Their current win-loss record stands at 32-35, with Tampa Bay winning two out of three recent matchups against them.

Tampa Bay Rays Shine While Boston Red Sox Struggle: Key Matchup Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have demonstrated a strong performance by winning six of their last eight games, while the Boston Red Sox have faced challenges with losses in four of their last five home games. Tampa Bay's advantage lies in their ability to hit right-handed pitchers effectively, making them well-suited to face Giolito, who has struggled on the mound with 14 runs surrendered in his last four starts. Boston's recent bullpen difficulties at home may hinder their ability to contain the Rays' offense.

Conversely, Boston is expected to face offensive challenges due to their recent hitting struggles as compared to Tampa Bay's pitcher, Pepiop, who has excelled with only two runs allowed in his last three starts. With the consensus that Tampa Bay boasts the fourth-best bullpen in the league, they are likely to limit Boston's offensive output. Therefore, it is advisable to consider selecting Tampa Bay on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]