Rays vs Red Sox Odds, Prediction and Betting Lines

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the MLB playoffs but they are still battling Baltimore for the AL East title and top seed in the postseason. The Rays are favored on the MLB odds Tuesday as they open a series in Boston, which has been eliminated from contention. | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis | MyBookie Sportsbook | MLB Week 25: Monday September 25 – Sunday October 1, 2023

How to Bet Tampa Bay at Boston MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Fenway Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Zach Eflin/Tanner Houck
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Rays -115, Red Sox +105 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

Either Tampa Bay or Baltimore will win the AL East and whichever doesn’t will be the AL’s top wild card team. Most likely, the Rays will not catch the Orioles but it’s still possible.

Tampa Bay could be without All-Star first baseman Yandy Diaz, named the team MVP this year, on Tuesday if not longer. Díaz, second in the AL with a .328 batting average, tweaked his hamstring running out a first-inning infield single Sunday vs. Toronto but stayed in the game. He was then pulled after gingerly running to first when he flied out in the third.

Díaz ranks among AL leaders in multi-hit games (2nd, 52), 3+ hit games (1st, 19) and 4+ hit games (T3rd, 4). His career-high 171 hits are the most by a Ray since Evan Longoria in 2016 (173). Díaz has recorded 21 home runs out of the lead-off spot, tied with Brandon Lowe (2021) and Gerald Williams (2000) for the most in a season in Rays history. The Rays are 43-9 this season when Diaz e records multiple hits, including 11 straight wins and a 20-1 mark since July 30.

Second baseman Brandon Lowe (fractured right patella), outfielder Luke Raley (cervical strain) and reliever Jason Adam (left oblique strain) all went on the injured list in recent days. All-Star left fielder Randy Arozarena was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Sunday due to quadriceps tightness and is day-to-day. He’s expected to play Tuesday.

Tampa Bay’s 95 wins are their fifth most in a season in club history. The Rays have seven wins when trailing entering the ninth inning, tied with the Guardians, Marlins and Phillies for the most in the majors. It ties the franchise record.

It’s right-hander Zach Eflin (15-8) on the mound Tuesday. Eflin struck out 10 and did not factor into the decision in last Thursday’s win over Angels. He allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings. Eflin reached the double-digit strikeout mark for the third time this year. He has an active streak of seven straight starts allowing three runs or fewer, dating back to Aug. 19. Over that span, Eflin is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 50:6 K:BB over 40.1 innings. The 29-year-old has shined in his first season in Tampa Bay with a 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182:24 K:BB over 172.2 innings.

With Aaron Civale feeling “under the weather,” per Manager Kevin Cash, the Rays will push him back and start Eflin and Tyler Glasnow in the Tuesday-Wednesday series in Boston. That conveniently lines them up for Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-three Wild Card Series that would start Oct. 3 at Tropicana Field.

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Why Bet on Boston?

Boston has been eliminated from MLB playoff contention and big changes likely are coming – chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has been fired and manager Alex Cora may be next. At home, the Red Sox lead the majors in AVG (.281). They also rank 3rd in OBP (.347) and OPS (.802), and 5th in SLG (.455). Yet Boston is 9-17 at home since the start of August after posting MLB’s best home record during July (9-2).

The Sox are 33-15 when their starter goes at least 6.0 innings, including 15-6 in their last 21 games. Boston owns MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (58-4, .935). Boston is 47-50 against teams with a current record of .500 or better, and 29-30 against teams below .500. The Sox have played 97 games against teams with a winning record, most in MLB. Boston has come from behind in 40 of its 76 wins this season. The only AL team with more such wins is Baltimore (48).

Justin Turner, 38, ranks T-6th in the AL with a career-high 95 RBI, 5 shy of his first career 100-RBI season. If Turner reaches 100 RBI, he’ll become the oldest player in MLB history to record their 1st career 100-RBI season. The current oldest player to record his 1st career 100-RBI season is Tony Gwynn in 1997 (37 years, 142 days old).

It’s right-hander Tanner Houck (5-9, 4.92) on the mound. Houck did not factor into the decision last Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings against the Rangers. He struck out four. Houck didn’t have his typical command in tying his season high in walks allowed. Though he limited the Rangers to three hits, one of them was a solo homer by Adolis Garcia in the second frame.

Houck Is 2-1 in his last 4 starts, after going 0-8 in his previous 11 (3-0 in first 4). He has allowed only 2 runs over 10.0 IP in his last 2 starts, after giving up 9 runs over 10.1 IP in his previous 2.

Houck is the Red Sox’s nominee for the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field.

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MLB Rays vs Red Sox Expert Prediction

Rays 5, Red Sox 4

AL East Standings

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