Last Updated on April 1, 2018 12:22 pm by drew
Red Sox vs. Rays Pick
Can the Boston Red Sox take a four-game series from the Tampa Bay Rays when the two meet today at 1:10PM ET?
GAME SNAPSHOT
(963) Boston Red Sox at (964) Tampa Bay Rays
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Location: Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, Florida
Weather: Indoors
Time: 1:10PM ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, Boston is favored in this game, as the Red Sox are getting odds of -115 to win against Tampa Bay. The Rays are getting a money line of -105 to prevail. The over/under total is currently listed at 8 runs.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Today’s pitching matchup features Hector Velazquez of the Red Sox to go up against Jacob Faria of the Rays. Velazquez started just three games and appeared in eight last year. He was 3-1 over 24.2 innings and had a 2.92 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP. Faria started 14 games last season and had a 5-4 record with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He amassed 84 strikeouts with 31 walks.
Bet on MLB for Sunday, April 1, 2018
PUBLIC BETTING INFORMATION
The public betting for this game is backing Boston. The Red Sox are getting 68 percent of the wagers as a road favorite against the Rays.
KEY INJURIES
Boston has second baseman Dustin Pedroia out until late May with a knee injury. Tampa Bay doesn’t have anyone new listed on the injury report for today’s contest.
BETTING STRATEGIES
Tampa won the first game of the series, 6-4, behind a late rally. Boston has since answered with 1-0 and 3-2 wins over the last two days. The Sox got another good start on Saturday, with Rick Porcello allowing just one run over 5.1 innings. Tampa starter Andrew Kittredge lasted just 3.1 innings and allowed two runs.
Xander Bogaerts had three hits and drove in two runs to lead Boston at the plate while J.D. Martinez finally got his first two hits as a Red Sox player. Matt Duffy had three hits for the Rays in the loss while Carlos Gomez had two hits and scored both runs.
This game features a pair of young starters that have good numbers, but limited experience. I still give the edge to Boston, as the Red Sox have the better hitters. It will be easier for Velazquez to navigate the Tampa lineup than Faria to navigate the Boston lineup.
MLB PREDICTIONS: BOSTON RED SOX -115