Red Sox vs. Rays Friday Prediction
The Rays own the best record in the American League East but are the Red Sox a better bet to cash on Friday night when these division rivals open a new series at 7:10 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
921 Boston Red Sox (-103) at 922 Tampa Bay Rays (-120); 8 runs
Friday, April 19, 2019
7:10 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL
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Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 64% of the betting tickets are on the Rays to beat the Red Sox on the moneyline.
Boston Red Sox Fantasy Spin
Andrew Benintendi (foot) is back in the Red Sox’ lineup Friday. It’s his first game since he fouled a ball off his right foot on Sunday. Benintendi is in left field and leading off. The Red Sox also have Tzu-Wei Lin — and not Michael Chavis — at second base.
Tampa Bay Rays Fantasy Spin
Tommy Pham went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base as his team fell to the Orioles in extra innings on Thursday. He laced an infield single in the first inning that allowed Austin Meadows to score. He thumped a solo home run in the third. Pham is one of the better all-around hitters in the fantasy game, capable of hitting for average, power and speed. He currently has a .286 batting average with three home runs, nine RBI, 10 runs and six stolen bases in 85 plate appearances. The only knock on Pham throughout his career has been an inability to stay healthy. The 31-year-old has a career high of 494 at-bats and has exceeded 159 at-bats only twice.
MLB Betting Trends
Boston
The Red Sox are winless in their last four games versus the Rays.
Tampa Bay
The Rays have beaten the Red Sox four straight times at Tropicana Field.
Prediction:
The Rays are red-hot and have scored runs in bunches but outside of Pham, Daniel Robertson and Avisail Garcia, they struggle against left-handed pitchers. The Red Sox have yet to get their offense going and I don’t think tonight is when Boston’s lineup will come alive. That said, given the Rays’ issues with lefties and the fact that the Red Sox are only -103 on the moneyline, I’ll take a flier on Boston.
The Pick: Boston Red Sox -103