The Boston Red Sox (5-5) play the 2nd outing in a 4-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays (10-0) Tuesday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is scheduled for 6:40 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 1-0. Rays won the season series 12-7 in 2022.
The Red Sox wasted a great outing by RHP Nick Pivetta on Monday, as he twirled 5 scoreless IP in the series opener. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 8th when Rays 2B Brandon Lowe swatted what turned out to be the eventual game-winning solo HR off of relief RHP Chris Martin.
The Rays’ win on Monday further extended their franchise-record win streak to open the season to 10-0. Tampa Bay is the first team since the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987 to open the season with 10 or more consecutive wins.
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Red Sox at Rays projected starters
RHP Garrett Whitlock vs. LHP Shane McClanahan
Whitlock makes his first start. He was 12-6 with a 2.73 ERA across 9 starts with 68 relief appearances in 2022.
- Started the season on the injured list due to a hip ailment.
- Last season on the road: 1-2, 3.77 ERA (31 IP, 13 ER), 1.07 WHIP, 38 K, .209 opponent batting average (OBA) in 4 starts and 8 relief appearances
- Was 0-0 with 1 save in 1 start and 1 relief appearance, allowing just 1 H and 0 BB with 8 K across 5 IP vs. Tampa Bay in 2022
McClanahan (2-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9 through 12 IP.
- Conceded just 2 ER on 5 H and 4 BB with 6 K across 7 IP in a win at the Washington Nationals Wednesday
- Allowed just 4 H and 1 BB with 6 K across 6 scoreless IP in a win against the Detroit Tigers on March 30 in his only home start this year
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 6:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Rays -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox +1.5 (-135) | Rays -1.5 (+110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 6, Red Sox 3
Moneyline
The Rays (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and even for a red-hot team playing at home that’s way too expensive.
There is just no value in playing heavy favorites like this, even if you were to toss it into a multi-team parlay.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
The RAYS -1.5 (+110) are a much better play at plus money on the run line.
The southpaw McClanahan hasn’t allowed much so far, and he was money at home in his first outing of the season on March 30.
Whitlock is returning from a hip ailment, and it’s uncertain how deep he’ll be able to go into the game. Advantage Tampa Bay, as it has the better starting pitcher.
The Red Sox are also just 6-20 in the past 26 trips to St. Petersburg while going 5-11 in the past 16 meetings overall in the series.
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Over/Under
OVER 7 (-125) is worth playing as a bet against Whitlock being effective.
The Over is 8-3 in the past 11 games on the road for the Red Sox despite the low-scoring affair Monday and is 4-1 in their last 5 against AL East teams.
The Over is also 5-1-1 in the past 7 games overall for the Rays while cashing at a 4-1 clip in their last 5 games at home and 4-1-1 in their last 6 vs. RHP.
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