The AL East-leading Boston Red Sox (44-30) and second-place Tampa Bay Rays (44-31) play the rubber match of their three-game series Thursday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Red Sox lead 4-1
The Rays snapped a seven-game skid Wednesday with an 8-2 victory, their first against the BoSox this season. Boston took Tuesday’s opener 9-5 in 11 innings.
RHP Nick Pivetta is projected to start the finale for Boston. He is 6-3 with a 4.36 ERA (74 1/3 IP, 36 ER), 1.35 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 14 starts.
- Last outing: Loss, 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 K in 5-3 loss at Kansas City Royals Friday
- Career vs. Rays: 1-0, 0.00 ERA (5 IP, 0 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, 4 K in 1 start, an 11-2 victory at Fenway Park April 5
RHP Michael Wacha is expected to start for Tampa Bay. He is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA (43 1/3 IP, 25 ER), 1.39 WHIP, 6.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 across 8 starts and 4 relief appearances.
- Last outing: Loss, 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 5-1 setback at Seattle Mariners Friday
- 2021 as starter: 1-2, 4.22 ERA (32 IP, 15 ER), 1.38 WHIP, 6.2 K/9
- Career vs. Red Sox (regular season): 1-1, 4.50 ERA (10 IP, 5 ER), 1.60 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 2 starts
MLB betting offers/promotions
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Red Sox at Rays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Red Sox +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Red Sox +1.5 (-175) | Rays -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Rays 7, Red Sox 4
Money line (ML)
The RAYS (-135) are the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager.
Mostly utilizing Wacha in an opener role recently, Tampa Bay is 4-1 in his last 5 starts.
Boston has lost 3 of Pivetta’s last 4 starts.
There’s also a bit of excitement on the Tampa Bay side with the recent call-up of top prospect SS Wander Franco. The 20-year-old Dominican went 2-for-4 with a homer, double and 3 RBIs in his MLB debut Tuesday but was 0-for-3 with a run and two walks Wednesday.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Back the RAYS -1.5 (+145) with a QUARTER-UNIT wager.
While Boston’s 30 losses are tied for the second fewest in the AL, 24 of those defeats have been by 2 or more runs.
Plus, the Rays have the second-best ATS record in the majors at 45-30. The reason for the small bet is because the Red Sox are fifth at 41-33.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 9 (-110) is the way to go. The last 8 Boston-Tampa Bay meetings cashed Over tickets, though the opener of this series needed extra innings.
O/U records: Red Sox 36-37-1 | Rays 42-30-3
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Bet on this game now at BetMGM Sportsbook. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| JOHNNY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| 2021 MLB | 61-70-2 | 19-28-1 | -15.4475 |
| 2020 MLB | 80-59-1 | 39-21 | +24.79 |
| 2021 (all sports) | 167-157-3 | 70-70-1 | -0.3375 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
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