The Tampa Bay Rays (8-8) open a series against the Boston Red Sox (6-9) Monday at Fenway Park. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Rays-Red Sox betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Rays at Red Sox: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Ryan Yarbrough vs. RHP Ryan Brasier
Yarbrough has posted a 3.78 ERA through three starts. The 28-year-old owns a career ERA of 4.00.
- Yarbrough has thus far missed a lot of bats in the zone (79% contact rate in strike zone) which is a good sign, but he’s also benefited greatly from a .245 batting average on balls in play.
- Boston hitters have clubbed Yarbrough to the tune of a .300/.346/.575 slash line. His last three starts against the Sox have resulted in a 10.66 ERA.
Brasier is tabbed as the opener for Monday’s series opener. He owns a 9.00 ERA through five games spanning 4.0 total innings.
- The Red Sox have logged a 6.09 ERA in games managed in opener fashion this year.
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Rays at Red Sox: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Rays
- RP Oliver Drake (biceps) out
Red Sox
- 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) out
- RP Josh Taylor (COVID-19) out
Rays at Red Sox: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML)
The Red Sox (+135) have won three of their last four games, and that includes taking a home series against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. This one gets deep into both bullpens. Figure on Tampa Bay (-149) being worse than advertised in that department and Boston being the opposite case.
Current Red Sox bats have solid numbers against Yarbrough, and he’s having to face Boston for a second straight start. He coughed up 5 runs in as many innings in a Tropicana Field start against the Sox on Aug. 5. TAKE THE RED SOX (+135).
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Red Sox to win returns a profit of $13.50.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The run-and-a-half cushion is tagged as RED SOX +1.5 (-121). This matchup is ripe for a double-digit total, but avoid the home nine on this play. Stick with the moneyline as a side.
Over/Under (O/U)
There is excellent value topside here. The counter-Rays pitching viewpoint, Boston’s trouble in allowing runs in opener games, and the weather forecast (warm and wind out to center) conspire to make the OVER 9 (-115) one of the top plays for Monday’s slate.
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