Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Boston Red Sox (6-7) will be on the road Friday to take on the Tampa Bay Rays (7-6) for the first game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida and can be viewed on MLB Extra Innings.  

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Score Prediction

Tampa Bay 4, Boston 3 

Best Bets 

• Rays ML (-135) at bet365

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Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Betting Predictions

The Boston Red Sox finished up a three-game series with the Blue Jays on Thursday. The Red Sox won the first matchup and lost the next two. The Red Sox struggled to get anything going offensively, scoring just five total runs throughout the series. The pitching was not terrible as they gave up 10 runs over the three games, six of those runs coming in one game. Right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha (0-0) is scheduled to take the mound Friday. Wacha has seen action in two games this season and has allowed three hits, one earned run, and struck out nine batters in 9.1 innings of work.  

Tampa Bay is coming off a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs. The Rays lost the first matchup, but were able to win the next two. This was the first time Tampa Bay has had back-to-back wins since their first series of the series with the Orioles. The offense was solid during the Cubs series, scoring 16 runs while allowing 11 on defense. The right-hander Corey Kluber (0-0) is expected to get the start Friday. Kluber has pitched in two games this season and has allowed seven hits, two earned runs, and struck out nine batters in 9.2 innings pitched.   

The Red Sox have gone cold with their bats, scoring just five runs in their last three games. Tampa Bay has been much better with 16 runs over their last three games. Boston is also 1-3 this season in game one of a series this season. Kluber has looked great in both games this season and I think that will continue on Friday. You can make a case for Boston here, but I like the Rays to win game one.  

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Betting Odds

• Red Sox +115
• Rays -135
• Red Sox +1.5 (-170)
• Rays -1.5 (+150)
• Over 8.5 (-110)
• Under 8.5 (-110)

MLB Odds | Futures Odds

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Betting Resources

• Date: Friday, April 22, 2022
• Matchup: AL East
• Stadium: Tropicana Field
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
• TV-Time: MLB.tv - 7:10 p.m. ET

Boston Red Sox Betting Analysis

After 13 games played this season, the Red Sox are 6-7 SU, 7-6 ATS, and have an O/U record of 4-9. Boston has had success against Tampa Bay in the past with a SU record of 4-1 in their last five matchups. Going against this trend, the Red Sox are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay. The total has gone under in five of Boston’s last six games.  

Boston has struggled with the bats recently, scoring three runs or less in four straight games. As a team the Red Sox have a batting average of .233 (13th), on base percentage of .284 (26th), slugging percentage of .370 (13th), and have scored 50 runs (16th). Shortstop Xander Bogaerts has led the way for Boston with a batting average of .354 (17-48), one home run, and six RBIs. The left fielder Alex Verdugo has also had a strong start with a batting average of .295 (13-44), three home runs, and nine RBIs.  

Pitching for the Red Sox has been better as of late, holding teams to three runs or less in four of their last six games. As a team they are allowing opponents a batting average of .234 (18th), have an ERA of .396 (20th), and have allowed 53 runs (19th). In their most recent loss to the Blue Jays, Boston used five different pitchers. Starter Tanner Houck lasted 5.0 innings and gave up three hits and two runs. The other four pitchers used gave up a combined six hits and one run. The right-hander Michael Wacha (0-0) is scheduled to take the mound Friday. Wacha has seen action in two games this season and has allowed three hits, one earned run, and struck out nine batters in 9.1 innings of work.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a decent start to the season and are 7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS, and have an O/U record of 6-7. Going back to last season Tampa Bay has played well at home, going 9-4 SU in their last 13 home games. This trend continues against Boston, going 8-3 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against the Red Sox. The total has gone under in five of their last seven games against Boston.  

The Rays have been hitting the ball well to start the season and have scored six runs or more in three of their last four games. As a team Tampa Bay has a batting average of .256 (6th), on base percentage of .323 (9th), slugging percentage of .400 (11th), and have scored 60 total runs (8th). Shortstop Wander Franco has been great with a batting average of .392 (20-51), one home run, and eight RBIs. Franco also heads into this game on a five-game hitting streak. Catcher Francisco Mejia has been productive as well with a batting average of .348, two home runs, and 10 RBIs. 

Tampa Bay’s pitching have held teams to three runs or less in seven games this season. As a team the Rays are allowing opponents a batting average of .212 (8th), have an ERA of 3.73 (15th), and have given up 55 runs (23rd). In their most recent win over the Cubs, the Rays used just two pitchers as the game was called after six innings due to weather. Starter Drew Rasmussen went 3.0 innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Jalen Beeks came in after Rasmussen and gave up zero hits and zero runs in 3.0 innings. Right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber (0-0) is expected to get the start Friday. Kluber has pitched in two games this season and has allowed seven hits, two earned runs, and struck out nine batters in 9.2 innings pitched.   

Key Players to Watch

• BOS: Xander Bogaerts - SS (Last Game: 3-4, 2B, RBI)
• BOS: Rafael Devers - 3B (Last Game: 0-3, R, BB)
• TMB: Wander Franco - SS (Last Game: 1-4, 2B, RBI)
• TMB: Randy Arozarena - OF (Last Game: 1-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI)

Probable Pitchers

• BOS: Michael Wacha - RHP (0-0, 0.96 ERA, 9 K, 0.86 WHIP)
• TMB: Corey Kluber - RHP (0-0, 1.86 ERA, 9 K, 1.14 WHIP)

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Betting Conclusion

I like Tampa Bay at home in this matchup. The Rays have won three of their last four and look good on both offense and defense. The Red Sox have lost three of their last four games, all of which were played at home. Boston has also been an underdog five times this season and has won one just one of those games. I think the Red Sox’s struggles will continue on Friday, which is why I will be playing the Tampa Bay moneyline in this one.