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The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox originally weren’t scheduled to play on Monday, but their series opener from Fenway Park last Friday was postponed and will now be played Monday as the finale with the Rays as solid favorites on the MLB odds with ace and AL Cy Young contender Shane McClanahan on the mound.

Rays vs. Red Sox | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis

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

When: Monday, 4:05 PM ET
Where: Fenway Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Shane McClanahan/Brayan Bello
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Rays -160, Red Sox +140 (total 9)

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

The Rays took a 2-1 lead in this series with a 6-2 win Sunday despite playing without star shortstop Wander Franco, second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jose Siri all with minor injuries. Franco is still being monitored after tweaking his left hamstring in the seventh inning during the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Franco didn’t play in Game 2 Saturday and then not at all Sunday. He has hit safely in a season-best eight straight games and is batting .484 (15-for-31) with two doubles, one triple, 6 RBI and five walks against four strikeouts during the eight-game stretch.

Lowe was scratched just before first pitch on Sunday due to left leg discomfort, but it was revealed after the game that Lowe’s back — which sidelined him for much of last season and has occasionally been an issue this year — locked up again and left him unable to play.

“It’s frustrating, because it’s another thing that has to do with the back. And to be frank, I’m tired of having to worry about it,” said Lowe. “But hopefully it’s just something that got [ticked] off and I’m all better (Monday.) It’s a little too early to say anything, honestly. So hopefully, a good night’s rest and everything’s perfect.”

Tampa Bay improved to 6-1 against the Red Sox this season and 42-19 overall on the year with Sunday’s win. Josh Lowe went 3-for-4 with a RBI and run scored. Yandy Diaz had a Little League home run of sorts thanks to poor fielding by Boston in the sixth.

The Rays extended their club record to 30 straight successful stolen base attempts when Josh Lowe swiped his 14th in the fifth inning. The Rays have an MLB-best six players with seven or more stolen bases. The next closest teams are Cleveland and Milwaukee with four players each.

It’s lefty Shane McClanahan on the bump here. McClanahan (8-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out seven. In his 12th start of the season, McClanahan took his first loss despite allowing just two runs. McClanahan has been on a tear to start the season, allowing more than two runs just once all year, earning a 2.07 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP to pair with a 10.6 K/9.

In six career starts against Boston, McClanahan is 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA (34.1IP, 9ER), holding Red Sox hitters to a .208 average (26-for-125) with 40 strikeouts against nine walks. He has made one start at Fenway Park, tossing 5.0 scoreless frames on 9/8/21 (5.0IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 3SO).

Bet Rays to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on Boston?

The Red Sox have 17 come-from-behind wins this season, tied for 3rd most in MLB. They have trailed in each of their last 3 wins. After this series, the Red Sox and Rays won’t meet until September, when they play a 3-game series in St. Petersburg from 9/4-6 and a 2-game series in Boston from 9/26-27.

First baseman/DH Bobby Dalbec is batting .421 (24-for-57) with nine home runs and 19 RBI over the last 15 games at Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox don’t have room for him on the major-league roster.

“We’re glad that he’s doing well. You know, not only hitting for power, but hitting for average. But obviously roster wise right now, this is who we have,” manager Alex Cora said.

Outfielder Adam Duvall started in center field and went 1-for-3 with two walks, a two-run home run, and two additional runs scored for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday. Duvall blasted his second home run during a rehab stint for Worcester. He’s played center field the last four games, including one full nine-inning appearance, and is 3-for-16 with two homers, three RBI and five runs scored over five games with the WooSox. He’s eligible to be activated this Friday.

Alex Verdugo went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Sunday’s loss but got little help. Verdugo doubled to start off the bottom of the first inning but was left stranded. He doubled again in the third inning and scampered home on a Masataka Yoshida single to right field. Verdugo roped a triple in the fifth inning before coming home on a Rafael Devers sacrifice fly.

It’s Brayan Bello (3-3, 3.89 ERA) on the mound Monday. Bello (3-3) took the loss last Tuesday as the Red Sox fell 9-8 to the Reds, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four. The 24-year-old right-hander has given up two earned runs or less in six straight starts, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB in 32 innings over that stretch.

Bello has a 10.13 ERA with seven strikeouts in eight career innings vs. Tampa Bay.

Bet Red Sox to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game