Red Sox vs. Rays Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays hold a one-game lead for the second AL Wild Card spot after yesterday’s home win over the Boston Red Sox. Is another win in the cards for Tampa Bay in today’s series finale?
Game Snapshot
921 Boston Red Sox at 922 Tampa Bay Rays
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Tropicana Field at 1:10PM ET
TV: Fox Sports Sun
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Rays are a -148 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Red Sox are a +138 underdog, while the total is set at 8.5 runs. As of Sunday morning, 68 percent of public bets are siding with host Tampa Bay. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Red Sox fall in 11 innings
Boston lost in extra innings for the second straight day at Tampa Bay Saturday as it fell 5-4 in 11 innings. The Red Sox took a 4-3 lead in the 11th before giving up two runs in the bottom half. Mitch Moreland helped lead the Boston offense as he finished 1-for-5 with a solo home run. Xander Bogaerts was 2-for-5 with a solo homer and a double. Rafael Devers ended the contest 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Josh Smith took the loss in relief as he allowed two earned runs on two hits without recording an out. Nathan Eovaldi gets the start this afternoon as he enters with a 1-0 record, 6.19 ERA and 1.61 WHIP plus 61 strikeouts over 56 2/3 innings pitched.
Lowe hits walk-off home run
Nate Lowe socked a walk-off two-run home run Saturday night as Tampa Bay downed Boston 5-4 to improve to 92-63 overall and 45-32 at home. It was the only hit for Lowe in five at-bats. Travis d’Arnaud helped pace the Rays offense as he finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Austin Meadows went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Diego Castillo notched the win in relief as he gave up one earned run on one hit with one strikeout and no walks over one inning. Ryan Yarbrough will start this afternoon as he comes in with an 11-4 record, 3.78 ERA and 0.94 WHIP plus 112 strikeouts across 133 1/3 innings of work.
MLB Betting Trends
Boston
The Red Sox are 3-7 in their last 10 Sunday games. Boston is 6-2 in the last eight Eovaldi road starts.
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 25-6 in their last 31 Sunday games. Tampa Bay is 5-2 in the last seven Yarbrough starts.
Prediction:
Eovaldi is inconsistent and after getting stretched out over the last month, he’ll be looked to pitch into the fifth and sixth innings today. The Rays have a little breathing room in the AL Wild Card race, but not much with the Indians a game back. With Yarbrough so efficient and the Rays’ offense likely to take advantage of Eovaldi and/or the Red Sox bullpen, I’m going with the home team in this spot.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS -148