Tampa Bay Rays vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays set to face off against Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in pivotal series opener

The Tampa Bay Rays will visit Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox in the first game of their three-game series on Monday night at 7:10 PM ET. Shane Baz will be starting for the Rays with a 5-3 record and a 4.96 ERA, while Brayan Bello will be on the mound for the Red Sox with a 2-1 record and a 3.91 ERA. Both teams will be looking to take the series lead, as they currently sit at 34-30 and 31-35 respectively. Boston is the betting favorite with a -110 opening line. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this matchup. Please note that this preview was written before Sunday's games were played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays -104 | Red Sox -110
• Spread: Rays +1.5 (-210) | Red Sox -1.5 (+178)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Boston will win straight-up is 52%.

Tampa Bay vs Boston Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have been performing well in their recent games, winning five of their last six matches. They are currently third in the AL East, one game behind second place, and will aim to climb higher in the division standings with a win in their upcoming game on Monday. Tampa Bay's offense averages 4.44 runs per game, ranking 12th in the league, with a batting average of .247 (15th), an on-base percentage of .312 (19th), and a slugging percentage of .394 (15th). Jonathan Aranda leads the team with a .321 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads in home runs (15) and RBI (40). Defensively, the Rays give up an average of 3.70 runs per game (eighth), with opponents batting .235 against them (13th). Their ERA is 3.52 (seventh) and WHIP is 1.17 (fourth). In their last game, Baz pitched five innings, giving up three runs in a 5-4 win over Texas. Additionally, the team is ranked 13th in offense, sixth in defense, and has a season record of 34-30, securing a power ranking of 1.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox have struggled in their recent games, losing three out of their last five matchups and currently sitting in fourth place in the AL East standings, trailing the Rays by four games. They will look to narrow the gap with a win in their upcoming game on Monday. The team's offensive statistics rank sixth in the league, with averages of 4.83 runs per game, a .254 batting average, a .327 on-base percentage, and a .418 slugging percentage. Alex Bregman leads the team with a .299 batting average, while Rafael Devers leads in home runs with 13 and RBI with 56. On the defensive side, the Red Sox are giving up an average of 4.64 runs per game, with opponents hitting .255 against them. Pitcher Bello has a 5.73 ERA in seven games against Tampa Bay, with a record of 2-4. The Red Sox have a power ranking of 22 and are ranked 6th in offense and 23rd in defense. Tampa Bay has had recent success against Boston, winning two out of their last three meetings.

Tampa Bay Rays poised for victory against struggling Boston Red Sox

The Tampa Bay Rays have been showing strong performance by winning four of their last five games, contrasting with the Boston Red Sox's recent struggle with three losses in their last five games. Tampa Bay's success against right-handers gives them an advantage in the upcoming game. On the other hand, Boston's pitcher Bello has been inconsistent, particularly at home, where he conceded 12 runs in his last three starts, nine of them against the Rays. With Boston's bullpen facing challenges, it will be difficult for them to contain Tampa Bay's offense. Additionally, Boston's offensive capabilities have been hampered by their performance against right-handers. Tampa Bay's Baz has been performing well on the mound, allowing only seven runs in his last three starts and keeping the Red Sox's offense under control. Considering these factors, it is advisable to place a bet on Tampa Bay's money line for this game.

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