Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Pick
Betting Odds
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The Rays rallied to take the opener of this three-game series Tuesday night and shoot for the series victory Wednesday night in Beantown. How are we playing this game for our free MLB pick?
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MLB Betting Odds<br />
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As of this writing, Wednesday's MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, probably because Tampa is going with an "opener" to start this game on the mound.
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Rays vs. Red Sox Set-Up<br />
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Tampa grabbed the opener of this series Tuesday night 6-5, cashing in as a +115 underdog on the MLB betting line. The Rays trailed Boston Tuesday 3-1 after three innings and 5-4 after five but scored twice with two outs in the top of the sixth and hung on from there.
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The Red Sox loaded the bases in the eighth and put two runners on in the ninth but failed to score both times.
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With Tuesday's win, Tampa is 4-1 over its last five games.
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Meanwhile, Tuesday's loss was Boston's second straight, after winning three in a row.
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At 61-48 and 59-49, respectively, the Rays and Red Sox trail the first-place Yankees by 7.5 and nine games in the AL East. But Tampa is just a half-game behind Oakland in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot, with Boston two games back.
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The Rays lead the season series with the Red Sox seven games to six.
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Wednesday's Starting Arms<br />
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<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/39874" title="Rick Porcello Pitching Logs">Porcello</a>, by our stringent standards, is just 6/21 on quality starts this season and 0 for his last six. Last Thursday he gave up three runs and six hits through six innings of a 19-3 Boston victory over the Yankees. But over his last six outings, he's allowed 30 runs and 47 hits through 29 innings.
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The Red Sox are 13-8 with Porcello this season and 4-0 over his last four starts, thanks mainly to some super run support.
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In two starts this season against Tampa Bay Porcello allowed six runs and 14 hits through 11 2/3 innings. Boston split those two games.
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<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/132369" title="Andrew Kittredge Pitching Logs">Kittredge</a> will start as an "opener" Wednesday for the third time this season. Last Saturday he gave up two runs and five hits through three innings of a 10-9 Rays loss to Toronto. And over his last three outings, he's allowed four runs and seven hits through five innings.
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Tampa is 1-1 when Kittredge starts this season.
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Over his last six appearances against the Red Sox, one this year and five last year, Kittredge allowed seven runs – six earned – and 11 hits through 11 1/3 innings.
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Wednesday's Batting Splits<br />
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Tampa Bay is batting .255/.328/.437 against right-handed pitching this season. The Rays have also scored 25 runs over their last three games.
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Boston is batting .284/.356/.481 against RH pitching this season. The Sox have also scored 49 runs over their last five games.
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The Bullpens<br />
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The Rays bullpen owns a 3.78 ERA this season and a 1.25 WHIP while allowing a .705 OPS. Numbers like those help this unit rank among the top four or five bullpens in baseball.
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The Red Sox pen owns a 4.53 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP while allowing a .752 OPS.
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Totals Report<br />
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Unders are 54-46 in Rays games this season.
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Overs are 64-41 in Red Sox games this season.
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Overs are 34-20 in games played at Fenway Park this season.
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Overs are 14-7 with Porcello this season.
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Unders are 7-6 in Rays-Red Sox games this season.
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1081348">Tampa Bay at Boston MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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Rays vs. Red Sox Prediction 7/31/19
The pitching match-up is about a wash, but in reality, Tampa might own the edge because its bullpen, one of the best in baseball, will probably throw seven innings. Also, Rays bats are perking up as of late, and with the nice underdog price, we're going with the Rays here for our free MLB pick.