The Boston Red Sox meet the Tampa Bay Rays Friday to continue their best-of-five AL Division series. Tampa Bay grabbed a 1-0 series lead with a 5-0 victory in the opener. First pitch is set for 7:02 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. Let’s analyze the lines around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA) makes his 10th start. He had a 1.34 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 11.0 K/9 through 42 2/3 IP.
- Allowed 7 runs (3 earned) on 16 hits and 3 walks with 9 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings across two no-decisions against Tampa Bay this season. The Red Sox and Rays split those games.
- Pitched into the 6th inning only three times this season.
Rays RHP Shane Baz (2-0, 2.03 ERA) makes his fourth start. He allowed 3 runs on 6 H and 3 BB with 18 K through 13 1/3 IP.
- The Rays won all three of Baz’ starts.
- His 3 runs allowed in the regular season were all on solo home runs.
Red Sox at Rays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Red Sox +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Rays -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Red Sox +1.5 (-180) | Rays -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under: 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
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Prediction
Rays 4, Red Sox 2
Money line (ML)
The Rays were 11-8 against the Red Sox in the regular season, winning 11 of the final 16 games in the series. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games overall.
Boston, before dropping the opener, had won four in a row and five of six games.
Sale was knocked around the last time he faced the Rays allowing 10 hits and 5 runs (only 1 earned) in 3 2/3 innings.
Take the RAYS (-140).
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Tampa’s Game 1 victory ended a four-game ATS win streak for Boston. The Rays have now covered the spread in their last seven games and in 10 of their last 11.
The Rays have the best ATS record in the American League at 98-65 ATS overall and are 45-37 ATS at home. They will continue to win with their brilliant pitching and take a 2-0 series lead while covering the spread.
Take the RAYS -1.5 (+145).
Over/Under (O/U)
Four of the last five games between these two teams at Tropicana Field have had totals of 7 or fewer runs.
Seven of the Rays’ last eight games have had 7 or fewer runs, while four of Boston’s last eight have had fewer than 8 total runs.
Take UNDER 7.5 (-125).
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