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The Boston Red Sox (23-24) take on the Tampa Bay Rays (25-23) Monday in the opener of a 3-game set at Tropicana Field at 6:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 3-1
The Red Sox dropped 2 of 3 over the weekend in St. Louis, but came away with an 11-3 victory Sunday. 3B Rafael Devers remains ablaze as he has homered in 5 straight games. OF Tyler O’Neill hit safely in all 3 over the weekend and took his former team deep for his 11th homer Sunday.
The Rays snapped a 4-game winning streak with a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday. The Rays are struggling on the mound with the 20th-ranked ERA at 4.30. They’ve allowed the 2nd-most homers with 62. They’re also tied for 19th with 4.1 runs per game. 1B Yandy Diaz is hitting .324 with 2 homers and 12 RBIs in May.
Red Sox at Rays projected starters
RHP Tanner Houck vs. RHP Taj Bradley
Houck (3-5, 2.17 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 58 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER (3R), 5 H, 3 BB, 7 K in 4-3 home setback to Rays Wednesday
- 4 career starts vs. Rays: 0-4, 6.75 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 23 K in 18 2/3 IP
Bradley (1-1, 2.45 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 1.00 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9 in 11 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 4-3 victory at Red Sox Wednesday
- 3 career starts vs. Red Sox: 3-0, 4.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 20 K in 15 IP
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Red Sox at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:17 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Rays -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox -1.5 (+155) | Rays +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 4, Rays 3
Moneyline
The Red Sox entered St. Louis with the best ERA in baseball Friday but slipped to 2nd at 3.03 after a humid weekend in which the ball was flying. In this pick ’em, we have a great starting staff vs. a mediocre offense.
Boston’s offense has come to life a bit lately. They’re 14th with 4.4 runs per game but have averaged 5.33 runs per game over their last 6. The Red Sox are 13-11 on the road, and I’ll side with them. Take RED SOX (-110).
Run line/Against the spread
As mentioned, Devers has homered in 5 straight games. I’m not high on the +320 for him to make it 6, but I will take RAFAEL DEVERS OVER 1.5 H+R+RBI (-140).
Over/Under
The line was 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -120) early Monday morning.
The juice correctly sided with the Under there. The Over is just 4-6 in the last 10 meetings between the clubs and 1-3 this season. Each team is also 4-6 O/U in their last 10 games respectively.
It’ll be close, if the line goes back lean Under 7.5 (-120).
I could see making a small wager on the alternate line of UNDER 7 (-130).
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