The Boston Red Sox (5-7) wrap up a 4-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays (12-0) Thursday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). 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 3-0
The Red Sox fell behind 3-0 in the 1st inning Wednesday as OF Randy Azorarena got the home crowd into it early with a 3-run HR off LHP Chris Sale. Tampa Bay built a 6-1 lead through 4 innings before the Boston bats came alive late.
The Rays had 6 extra-base hits Wednesday, including the Azorarena dinger. Tampa Bay now leads the majors with 20 homers and 92 runs scored. It’s no surprise it is tops in run differential at plus-65, but it is shocking that the 2nd-best team in differential is the New York Yankees at just plus-28.
A win Thursday would move Tampa Bay into a tie with the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the most wins to start a season in MLB history.
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Red Sox at Rays projected starters
RHP Corey Kluber vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs
Kluber (0-2, 6.48 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 1.68 WHIP, 5.4 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 through 8 1/3 IP.
- Has served up 3 HR in just 8 1/3 IP across 2 starts
- Allowed 20 HR across 164 IP in 31 starts for the Rays in 2022, including 9 HR in just 87 1/3 IP at Tropicana Field
Springs (2-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 0.54 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 13.2 K/9 through 13 IP.
- Has allowed just 3 H with 4 BB across 13 scoreless IP through 2 starts
- Managed at least 7 K in each of his 2 starts, including a 12 K effort on April 2 against the Detroit Tigers
- Went 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3 HR, 20 K and a .235 opponent batting average (BA) in 18 IP across 4 starts and 1 relief appearance vs. Boston in 2022
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 7:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Rays -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox +1.5 (-105) | Rays -1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, Red Sox 1
Moneyline
The Rays (-225) will cost you over 2 times your potential return, and that’s rather risky. Not only is Tampa Bay due for a loss, but it is facing a pitcher who knows the team well after pitching for the Rays in 2022.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
Despite Kluber’s familiarity with the team and stadium, the RAYS -1.5 (-115) are the play.
Kluber has had difficulty keeping the ball in the park lately, and that’s dangerous against a Rays team which leads the majors in runs scored, run differential and home runs.
Springs hasn’t allowed anything, and the Red Sox are 8-20 in the past 28 on the road, and 0-4 in the past 4 against winning teams. It’s looking like Tampa Bay gets to a baker’s dozen in wins and ties the MLB record.
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Over/Under
UNDER 8 (-105) is worth playing lightly, but go with a half-unit play at most.
Kluber has had issues keeping the ball down, and the Rays have been super powerful to date. However, Springs hasn’t allowed much, and the Under is 6-2 in the past 8 on the road for the BoSox against southpaws.
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