Boston Red Sox vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Boston Red Sox Look to Secure Road Victory Against Tampa Bay Rays in Second Game of Series

The Boston Red Sox are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of a three-game series on Wednesday at 6:50 p.m. ET. Tanner Houck will take the mound for the Red Sox, with Ryan Pepiot starting for the Rays. Despite Tampa Bay being the betting favorite with opening odds of -115, the line has remained stable leading up to the game. Please note, this summary is written prior to the completion of Tuesday's game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox +105 | Rays -115
• Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-210) | Rays -1.5 (+172)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 53%.

Boston vs Tampa Bay Stats

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox enter their upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a record of 75-75, coming off a series where they lost three of four games to the New York Yankees. Offensively, the Red Sox have been performing well, ranking fifth in batting average, eighth in on-base percentage, and fifth in slugging percentage in the majors. On the road, they have a similar slash line. Key players like Pepiot, Refsnyder, and Rafaela have had success against the Rays' pitching, while Duran and Wong have struggled. The Red Sox are expected to start right-hander Cooper Criswell, who has a 6-4 record and a 3.98 ERA. In his last outing, he pitched well against the Yankees, allowing only one run in 5.1 innings. Against the Rays, Criswell has a 0-0 record with a 5.00 ERA. On the road, he has a 3-2 record with a 4.14 ERA, while Boston's team ERA ranks 18th in the league. Overall, Boston is ranked 20th in power rankings, excelling in offense with an average of 4.76 runs scored per game but struggling on defense, allowing an average of 4.73 runs against them per game.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays, with a record of 73-77, split their four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians, losing the final two games. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays, boasting an 8-6 record and a 3.76 ERA. The team has a 3.88 team ERA, ranking 11th in the league, but has struggled offensively with a slash line of .230/.304/.368, ranking 27th in the majors. At home, Pepiot is 3-3 with a 3.97 ERA. The Rays have a power ranking of 19 and rank 28th in offense, averaging 3.84 runs per game. On defense, they rank 11th, allowing an average of 4.23 runs per game. Tampa Bay has had success against Boston this season, winning all three matchups.

Boston Red Sox Poised for Road Victory Against Tampa Bay Rays

The Boston Red Sox are currently positioned four games behind a Wild Card spot with limited time left in the season. Despite this, a favorable opportunity presents itself for the Red Sox to succeed on the road. The team's offense has notably performed well throughout the season, which may give them an advantage against Pepiot, a pitcher who has faced challenges this year. With a strong record of 40-35 on the road, Boston appears well-equipped to face the Tampa Bay Rays, who have a less impressive record of 37-38 at home. Considering these factors, it is recommended to consider betting on the Boston Red Sox to win on the Moneyline in this match-up.

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