The Boston Red Sox (67-68) and Tampa Bay Rays (74-58) open a 3-game set Monday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Rays lead 9-4
The Red Sox swept the Rangers in a 4-game series with a 5-2 win Sunday. Boston 2B Trevor Story hit a go-ahead 3-run HR to give Boston a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning, and the pitching held on.
The Rays lost 2-1 to the Yankees Sunday after winning their previous 5 games with a plus-24 run differential.
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Red Sox at Rays projected starters
RHP Michael Wacha vs. RHP Luis Patiño
Wacha (10-1, 2.56 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9 through 95 IP.
- Last start: recorded a win Wednesday at the Minnesota Twins with 2 ER on 4 H and 1 BB with 7 K across 6 IP
- Is 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA over 2 starts vs. Tampa Bay this season
Patiño (1-1, 3.95 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.61 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 4.6 K/9 through 13 2/3 IP.
- Is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA through 9 2/3 IP across 3 home starts
- First appearance vs. the Red Sox this season
Red Sox at Rays odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Red Sox -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Rays -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox -1.5 (+155) | Rays +1.5 (-205)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -120)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 5, Rays 4
Money line
Baseball is a streaky sport and the Red Sox have looked like the best team in the AL East for the last week. The short line for Tampa Bay reflects that Wacha should be able to continue to impose Boston’s winning ways over the Rays and Patiño.
BET BOSTON (-105).
Run line/Against the spread
I would PASS on taking this game on the RL. Boston should win, but the +155 line for it to win by 2 or more runs is not profitable in the long run. Tampa Bay has only lost 1 of its last 10 games by more than 1 run.
Boston’s offense has been elite lately and since it is facing a younger pitcher in Patiño, BETTING THE OVER 7.5 (-105) is the right side in this game. The Red Sox are averaging the 3rd-most runs in the majors (6.33) over their last 3 games.
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