The Tampa Bay Rays (40-18) and Boston Red Sox (29-27) open up a 4-game set Friday at Fenway Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 4-0
Tampa comes in fresh off a day of rest after avoiding a sweep with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs Wednesday. The Rays have played 5 straight 1-run games, which they’ve exited 2-3 from. They’re 6-4 and 11-9 over the last 10 and 20 games, respectively, and are just 14-12 on the road despite their historic start.
The Red Sox have struggled, losers of 7 of their last 10 games, after a nice run in May. They sit 10 games back in the AL East and 4 games out of the Wild Card race, so there’s still time to avoid being sellers in July. Boston is 16-13 at home and 7-7 in divisional games.
Rays at Red Sox projected starters
RHP Tyler Glasnow vs. RHP Garrett Whitlock
Glasnow (0-0, 6.23 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He has a 1.39 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 16.6 K/9 in 4 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday in his season debut
- Last 5 starts vs. Boston: 1-0, 3.80 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 38 K in 23 2/3 IP
Whitlock (2-2, 5.14 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 6.4 K/9 in 21 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K in 5 IP vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday
- 2 career starts vs. Tampa: 0-1, 5.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12 K in 9 IP
Rays at Red Sox odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:25 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Red Sox +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (+110) | Red Sox -1.5 (-135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Rays at Red Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, Red Sox 4
Moneyline
The hard-throwing Glasnow makes his 2nd start after missing most of the first couple of months with an oblique injury. He threw 83 pitches and started to fade in the 5th inning in his debut.
He has given the Red Sox fits in his last 2 outings with 1 ER and 16 K’s in 9 2/3 IP. The Rays’ pen is 22nd with a 4.32 ERA, but they use their bullpen a little differently and freely with bullpen games. SS Wander Franco sat out Wednesday with a left-shoulder ailment and his absence could definitely swing the lines. So wait until lineups are released, but LEAN RAYS (-140).
Run line/Against the spread
The Rays won 3 of the 4 by multiple runs early in the season, but as mentioned, they have played 5 straight 1-run games. Glasnow doesn’t figure to go deep, so I’d be weary of either side of the RL.
PASS.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
We have some poor conditions forecasted at Fenway with a 63 percent chance of rain and the wind is blowing in from left-center field at 9 mph. Tampa scored a total of 5 runs in the last 3 games, and Whitlock has alternated 1 ER and 5 ER starts over the last 4 starts. The Under is 4-0 in the Rays’ last 4 games on grass and 4-0 in the Red Sox’s last 4 games inside the division. This total looks a little tall with all that in consideration.
Take the UNDER 9.5 (-120).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Ryan Dodson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup