The Tampa Bay Rays (86-51) and Boston Red Sox (79-60) play the opener of a three-game series Monday at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Red Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 4.50 ERA) makes his 20th start and 26th appearance. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 7.0 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 through 134 IP.
- Yielded 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks with 3 strikeouts across 6 innings in a win over Boston Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
- Is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and .303 opponent batting average with 5 home runs allowed in 18 IP across three starts and one relief appearance against Boston this season.
Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (3-0, 2.53 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 through 21 1/3 IP.
- Allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts over 6 IP in a win in St. Petersburg Wednesday against the Rays.
- Has won three of his four starts this season, and has allowed just 2 home runs across the past 16 1/3 IP over three outings.
Rays at Red Sox odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +122 (bet $100 to win $122) | Red Sox -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-175) | Red Sox -1.5 (+140)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)
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Prediction
Red Sox 5, Rays 2
Money line (ML)
The RED SOX (-150) are moderate favorites against the Rays in this showdown game. Tampa Bay is the only team Sale didn’t get a win against in his four starts to date, but he pitched well and he’ll do so again Monday at Fenway.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
RED SOX -1.5 (+140) covered the run line in each of the past two meetings with the Rays, including once as a favorite. Boston has won by 2 or more runs in 11 of its last 14 victories.
Over/Under (O/U)
Play UNDER 8.5 (+100) as a great value at plus money.
The Under is 5-2-1 in Tampa Bay’s last eight games inside the division while going 4-1 in its last five against a left-handed starting pitcher. The Under is also 4-0 in its last four series openers.
The Under is 5-1 in Boston’s last six against AL East foes and 4-1 in its last five meetings with Tampa.
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