Rays vs. Red Sox Sunday Prediction
The Boston Red Sox will go for the sweep of their American League East rivals on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET when they wrap things up with the Tampa Bay Rays. Will the Rays salvage at least one game in Boston this weekend?
Game Snapshot & Odds
915 Tampa Bay Rays (+205) at 916 Boston Red Sox (-245); 9 runs
Sunday, August 19, 2018
1:05 p.m. ET, Fenway Park
TV: TB (FS SUN); BOS (NESN)
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Red Sox as a -245 favorite. As of this writing, 69% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Red Sox to beat the Rays on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Rays’ Castillo earns victory as long reliever
Diego Castillo (3-2) earned the win Saturday by pitching 2.2 scoreless innings, working around one walk and one hit while striking out two in the Rays’ victory over the Blue Jays. It’s another brief outing — after Ryne Stanek opened for 1.1 frames — that lined up a Rays reliever for the victory, and Castillo recorded the most outs of any member of the Rays’ six-man staff on the day. Castillo is no stranger to useful outings this season, compiling 12 holds and often pitching in late innings during high-leverage assignments. Although the right-hander has struck out 36 in 32.2 innings this season, the Rays’ juggling of when he enters the game puts him outside the realm of logical fantasy value in most setups.
Red Sox Velazquez allows two runs vs. Orioles in last start
Hector Velazquez drew a start in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader and gave up two runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Orioles. He failed to register a strikeout but on the bright side he allowed just two hits and one walk in the brief outing. He has made 30 relief appearances for the Red Sox this year and was called upon to make this spot start on what amounted to a “bullpen day” for the back end of the doubleheader. He has a good ERA despite a very poor strikeout rate. The 29-year-old has vultured seven wins this year without a loss to go with his 2.82 ERA. On the down side he has a 1.40 WHIP with just 36 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Rays have lost 24 of their last 35 games on the road.
Boston
The Red Sox have won eight straight games when they face a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Prediction:
The Rays have dropped five of their last six games versus the Red Sox and six of eight in Boston. They’re also just 1-4 in their last five games after scoring two runs or less in their previous game while the Red Sox are 45-14 in their last 59 games versus the rest of the American League East. They’re also 4-0 in Velazquez’s last four starts.
The Pick: Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+100)