Red Sox vs. Rays Game 1 Prediction
American League East rival meet in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday night when the Rays host the Red Sox at 8:07 p.m. ET. Is Boston poised to pull off another upset or is Tampa the better bet to cash in this playoff opener?
Game Snapshot
913 Boston Red Sox (+137) at 914 Tampa Bay Rays (-149); o/u 8
8:07 p.m. ET, Thursday, October 7, 2021
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Boston Red Sox DFS Spin
J.D. Martinez (ankle) is on the Red Sox roster for their ALDS matchup against the Rays. Martinez suffered a sprained left ankle in Sunday’s regular-season finale and is still battling some residual swelling, but he’s well enough to give it a go for the best-of-five Division Series round. The veteran slugger batted .286/.349/.518 with 28 home runs and 99 RBI over 148 games this year.
Tampa Bay Rays DFS Spin
The Rays will start Shane McClanahan in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday. The Rays still don’t know if they are playing the Red Sox or Yankees, but McClanahan will start regardless. Shane Baz will go in Game 2 and Drew Rasmussen is the most likely option for Game 3. McClanahan goes into the postseason with a 2.81 ERA over his last 13 starts dating back to early July.
Red Sox vs. Rays Game 1 ALDS Prediction
The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last nine games at Tropicana Field, are 4-11 in their last 15 games versus the Rays overall and are 4-12 in their last 16 games as a road underdog. Boston has also dropped seven of its last 10 Divisional Playoff road games, is 2-5 in its last seven games against divisional opponents and is 5-14 in its last 19 games as an underdog. On the other side, the Rays are 4-0 in their last four games following a loss, are 4-1 in their last five Divisional Playoff home games and are 4-0 in their last four games against a left-handed starter.
2021 ALDS GAME 1 PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS -149
