Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays Picks & Betting Tips – Rays Tipped To Win Opener

Boston advanced to the ALDS with a (6-2) victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday while Tampa Bay has not played since Sunday.

Boston (92-70, 1-0 playoffs) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, on a Xander Bogaerts home run and Nathan Eovaldi outdueled Gerrit Cole in the Red Sox 6-2 victory over the Yankees on Tuesday in the AL wild card game. 

The Red Sox are 6-5 in their last 11 games, 43-38 on the road, and 35-31 vs. LHPs.

Rodriguez, who threw a perfect inning out of the bullpen in the Sox’s 7-5 victory over Washington on Sunday, has allowed six runs in his last four starts. The 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over the last six appearances. He is 1-1 in 4 games against the Rays, allowing 13 runs and 23 hits over 21.0 innings while recording 24 strikeouts and 3 walks. 

Tampa Bay (100-62) set a franchise record for wins and won the AL East for the second straight season. The Rays are in the playoffs for the third straight season overall.

The Rays are 7-3 over the last 10 games, 52-29 at home, and 38-27 vs. LHPs.

McClanahan has allowed three runs over his last four starts. The 25-year-old rookie is 1-2 in five starts with a 2.74 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and .253 OBA since Sept. 1. He is 1-0 in three starts against Boston, allowing five runs and 15 hits over 16 innings of work while recording 18 strikeouts and 5 walks.

Tampa Bay and Boston have split their last six games in the series (last meeting over Sept. 6-8).

The Rays, who have won 7 of 10 against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field,  and won the season- series 11-8. The Rays outscored the Sox 106-104 in the series.

The Red Sox averaged 5.4 runs while compiling a .767 OPS against the Rays this year.

The Rays averaged 5.5 runs while compiling a .754 OPS against the Red Sox this year.

Boston hit two home runs and out-hit New York 7-6 while also drawing seven walks in their 6-2 wild card victory over the Yankees.

The Red Sox have won four straight and five of six overall. They are 18-11 since Sept. 1 outscoring their opponents 160-111.

Tampa Bay lost to New York 1-0 on Sunday, snapping a two-game winning streak. 

The Rays have won four of six and went 16-14 over their last 30 games. Tampa has outscored its opponents 147-112 during this stretch. 

The Rays’ offense has produced 4.9 runs over the last 30-games and with a slash line of .257/.330/.457.

Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has posted a 3.64 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .228 OBA since Sept. 1.