Red Sox vs. Rays Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays are in a tight three-team race for two AL Wild Card spots with nine games left in the regular season. Can Tampa Bay open its home series with the Boston Red Sox getting a key win as the favorites?
Game Snapshot
921 Boston Red Sox at 922 Tampa Bay Rays
Friday, September 20, 2019
Tropicana Field at 7:10PM ET
TV: Fox Sports Sun
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Rays are a -179 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Red Sox are a +169 underdog, while the total is set at 8.5 runs. As of Friday morning, 61 percent of public bets are being placed on host Tampa Bay. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Red Sox avoid home sweep
Boston edged visiting San Francisco Thursday night by a count of 5-4 to improve to 80-72 overall and 37-41 at home. Xander Bogaerts helped lead the Red Sox offense as he finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Andrew Benintendi was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Christian Vasquez was also 2-for-4 with two runs. Eduardo Rodriguez picked up the win as he allowed one unearned run on two hits over six innings, striking out 10 and walking two. Rick Porcello draws the start tonight as he enters with a 13-12 record, 5.77 ERA and 1.44 WHIP plus 129 strikeouts over 162 1/3 innings pitched.
Rays prevail in 11 innings
Tampa Bay downed the host Dodgers 8-7 in 11 innings Wednesday night to improve to 90-63 overall and 47-31 on the road. Tommy Pham led the Rays offensively as he finished 5-for-6 with two doubles, a stolen base, three runs scored and two RBIs. Austin Meadows went 1-for-5 with a solo home run that provided the go-ahead run in the 11th, a walk and two runs. Ji-Man Choi ended the contest 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. Colin Poche picked up the win as he gave up one hit with no strikeouts or walks in one scoreless inning of relief. Peter Fairbanks notched the save as he allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout and no walks over one inning. Charlie Morton gets the start tonight as he enters with a 15-6 record, 3.16 ERA and 1.10 WHIP plus 223 strikeouts over 182 1/3 innings of work.
MLB Betting Trends
Boston
The Red Sox are 5-0 in their last five Friday games. Boston is 3-7 in its last 10 games overall.
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 4-0 in their last four games overall. Tampa Bay is 10-1 in its last 11 home games.
Prediction:
Morton is having a fine season and has had success against Boston at home, while Porcello is having a disaster of a season and doesn’t at all resemble the former AL Cy Young Award winner that he is. Tampa Bay has plenty to play for and Boston is going through the motions in the final week-plus of its season. Go with Tampa Bay in this spot.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS -179