Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Betting Pick 09/21/19

Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox are ready to take the field against their AL East foe Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The action will get going at 6:10 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to New England Sports Network.

Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Odds

The Rays are 91-63 straight up (SU) and 79-74 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a lot for gamblers, losing 0.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.3 units ATS. The Red Sox have gone 80-73 SU this year and are 62-90 against the spread. They’ve lost 25.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 36.7 units ATS.

Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 74-71-8 in 2019. Boston has been a great over bet with a total record of 84-65-3.

Right-hander Travis Lakins is the probable starter for the visiting Red Sox. Lakins is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.

The Rays will send righty Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 2.02 ERA) to the mound. Glasnow has 65 strikeouts and 12 walks as well as a WHIP of 0.94. Glasnow is 1-0 with 14 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA across two starts against Boston this year.

As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.1 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.62, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has a 3.75 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 68 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 3.48 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.37.

Tampa Bay’s offense has produced 4.8 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .217/.288/.322 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.

The Rays’ hitters have been led by Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows. Pham is hitting .278/.373/.456 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, 75 runs and 23 stolen bases, while the line for Meadows stands at .286/.358/.563 with 32 homers, 88 RBIs and 79 runs.

In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.88 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.56 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.33, along with a K/9 of 10.51.

Red Sox hitters have slashed .269/.342/.468 on their way to 5.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).

Boston’s offense has been sparked by third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who collectively have belted 61 home runs. Devers is slashing .308/.360/.551 with 30 home runs, 110 RBIs and 120 runs scored, while Bogaerts (.304/.380/.548) is up to 31 homers, 109 RBIs and 104 runs scored.

The Red Sox have lost 10.1 units and are 45-58 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over’s hit in 57 of those games, compared to 44 that’ve hit the under against righties.

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER