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Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays: An AL East matchup

The Boston Red Sox are visiting the Tampa Bay Rays tonight at the Tropicana Field.

The Red Sox are barely breathing

The Boston Red Sox are third in the AL East with a 75-76 record including 40-36 on the road. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games including the the series opener against the Rays. Boston has a 4.13 ERA, a .243 batting average, a .309 on-base percentage, and 1.26 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Jarren Duran is the best player on the team with 179 hits, and 104 runs while Rafael Devers leads the team with 28 home runs.

The Rays have split the last ten games

The Tampa Bay Rays are fourth in the AL East with a 74-77 record and 38-38 at home. They have won 3 of the last 5 games including last night against the Red Sox. Tampa Bay has a 3.89 ERA, a .236 batting average, a .302 on-base percentage, and 1.22 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Yandy Diaz leads the team with 153, Jose Caballero is on top with 53 runs, while Brandon Lowe leads with 19 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Rays are 16-4 SU in their last 20 home games against Boston and 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against teams from the AL East. Tampa Bay has played under the total run line in 5 of their last 6 games overall, 6 of their last 9 games against the Red Sox and 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the AL and has gone over in 6 of their last 9 home games. The Red Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games overall, and 1-9 SU in their last 10 games on the road. Boston has played under the total run line in 5 of their last 7 games overall, 12 of their last 17 games against teams from the AL and 8 of their last 11 games against teams from the AL East.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Boston Red Sox swept the previous series when they visited the Rays in May, but Tampa Bay won 8-3 last night in the series opener. They will be looking for another one with Ryan Pepiot on the mound, who is 8-6 for the season with a 3.76 ERA, 119 K, 115 IP, and 1.17 WHIP. The Red Sox will start Tanner Houck, who is 8-10 for the season with a 3.24 ERA, 150 K, 169.2 IP, and 1.19 WHIP. Both pitchers have a solid season, and with the majority of the games of both teams going under, we go with under 7.5 runs tonight.