SPORTS BETTING

Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox odds, expert picks and prediction

Joe Williams
Sportsbook Wire

The Tampa Bay Rays (86-51) and Boston Red Sox (79-60) play the opener of a three-game series Monday at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Red Soxodds with MLB picks and predictions.

Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (8-4, 4.50 ERA) makes his 20th start and 26th appearance. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 7.0 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 through 134 IP.

  • Yielded 2 runs on 5 hits and no walks with 3 strikeouts across 6 innings in a win over Boston Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
  • Is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and .303 opponent batting average with 5 home runs allowed in 18 IP across three starts and one relief appearance against Boston this season.

Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (3-0, 2.53 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 through 21 1/3 IP.

  • Allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts over 6 IP in a win in St. Petersburg Wednesday against the Rays.
  • Has won three of his four starts this season, and has allowed just 2 home runs across the past 16 1/3 IP over three outings.

Rays at Red Sox odds, lines, picks and prediction

MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Rays +122 (bet $100 to win $122) | Red Sox -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-175) | Red Sox -1.5 (+140)
  • Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)

PLAY: Free, daily sports pick'em contests.Play now!

Prediction

Red Sox 5, Rays 2

Money line(ML)

The RED SOX (-150) are moderate favorites against the Rays in this showdown game. Tampa Bay is the only team Sale didn't get a win against in his four starts to date, but he pitched well and he'll do so again Monday at Fenway.

FANTASY BASEBALL: Serious about winning your league? Sign up for BaseballHQ.com to dominate the competition.Subscribe now!

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

RED SOX -1.5 (+140) covered the run line in each of the past two meetings with the Rays, including once as a favorite. Boston has won by 2 or more runs in 11 of its last 14 victories.

Over/Under (O/U)

Play UNDER 8.5 (+100) as a great value at plus money.

The Under is 5-2-1 in Tampa Bay's last eight games inside the division while going 4-1 in its last five against a left-handed starting pitcher. The Under is also 4-0 in its last four series openers.

The Under is 5-1 in Boston's last six against AL East foes and 4-1 in its last five meetings with Tampa.

For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Joe Williams on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.