MLB Betting Preview
Boston Red Sox (50-34) at Tampa Bay Rays (49-32)
Monday, 7:10 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Rays   -135 ,  Total  9 Under -120

The Tampa Bay Rays begin the second half of the season in first place in the American League East. To stay there they will have to beat the second place Boston Red Sox as the teams open up a three game series at Tropicana Field.  The last time that Tampa pitcher James Shields faced the Red Sox he was involved in a brawl in Boston after hitting Coco Crisp with a pitch.  Eight players were suspended due to the brawl and neither team has forgotten.  Crisp is suspended and will not play in tonight’s game. This series has been dominated by the home team this season with the Red Sox winning all six of their home games and the Rays winning all three of their home games back in April. SBG Global reports that early MLB betting has the public taking Red Sox on the Road.

The Rays have the best record in their history at the half way mark.  They just completed a 5-1 road trip.  Shields will try and get over the .500 mark for them tonight.  His ERA is nice at 3.76 but he is only 5-5 on the season.  He had one great outing against Boston this season shutting them out in April but then allowed 10 runs in a May loss.  He is 1-4 with a 5.66 ERA in seven starts against them in his career.

SBG Global Current Line: Rays   -148 ,  Total  9 Under -125

Boston lost two of three in Houston and will try and avoid their first three-game losing streak since May. Justin Masterson gets the call on Monday.  He is 4-1 with a 3.43.  He beat Tampa Bay earlier this month.

Here are the MLB betting stats for Monday’s game. The Red Sox are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. the American League East. The Red Sox are 6-13 in their last 19 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Red Sox are 3-7 in their last 10 games as a road underdog. The Red Sox are 5-1 in Masterson’s last 6 starts.

The Red Sox are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Tampa Bay

The Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 Monday games. The Rays are 5-1 in their last 6 overall. The Rays are 20-6 in their last 26 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Rays are 21-7 in their last 28 games as a home favorite. The Rays are 9-1 in Shields’ last 10 starts as a home favorite. The Rays are 1-6 in Shields’ last 7 starts vs. the Red Sox.

The Under is 5-1-1 in the Red Sox last 7 overall. The Under is 4-1 in the Red Sox last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Under is 6-2 in the Rays last 8 games as a favorite. The Under is 7-3 in the Rays last 10 vs. the American League East. The Under is 19-9-1 in the Rays last 29 overall. The Over is 4-1 in Shields’ last 5 starts as a favorite.

The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Tampa Bay between the two teams.