The Tampa Bay Rays (44-37) and Boston Red Sox (45-36) finalize a 3-game series Wednesday at Fenway Park. First pitch is slated for a 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. Red Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Tampa Bay leads 3-2.
The Rays and Red Sox — the 2 closest pursuers of the New York Yankees in the powerful AL East — have split the first 2 games of this series. Tampa won Tuesday’s game and is 4-1 in its last 5 and owns a 3.34 ERA since June 12.
Tuesday’s loss snapped Boston’s 5-game Fenway win streak. Since June 1, the BoSox are 9-3 at home.
Rays at Red Sox projected starters
RHP Corey Kluber vs. RHP Brayan Bello
Kluber (3-5, 3.91 ERA) owns a 1.16 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 through 76 IP in 15 starts.
- Current Boston bats own an aggregate .778 OPS against him.
- Posted a 2.70 ERA from May 16-June 25. That stretch came to an abrupt end Friday in Toronto: 3 IP, 7H, 5R, 2 BB.
Bello is a 23-year-old making his Major League debut.
- Has notched a 2.33 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 114 and walking 33 in 85 IP between Double- and Triple-A.
- Facing a Tampa nine swung around to the lesser side of its platoon splits (.703 OPS vs. lefty pitchers, .672 OPS vs. right-handers).
Rays at Red Sox 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 1:11 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Red Sox -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Run line (RL): Rays +1.5 (-190) | Red Sox -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -105 | U: -120)
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Rays at Red Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 5, Rays 4
Money line
Many bettors — including me — lay off hurlers making their MLB debuts. But BOSTON (-130) is worth a look here.
Road-weary Tampa Bay sports some analytics that do not support solid surface numbers for the bullpen. And Boston has a better and more consistent offense.
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Run line/Against the spread
PASS: The price on the straight-up play offers a bit more leverage for the risk.
Over/Under
Both offenses slow down against righty pitching, and the bullpens are in decent shape on a cool-for-July Fenway evening with a pitcher’s breeze in the forecast. TAKE THE UNDER 9.5 (-120).
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