The Tampa Bay Rays (88-51) and Boston Red Sox (79-62) square off for the 19th and last time this season Wednesday night. First pitch from Fenway Park will be at 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Red Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (9-5, 3.76 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.32 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9 through 105 1/3 IP.
- Roughed up by the Red Sox Thursday, while allowing 4 runs over 5 innings, though he did tie a season-high with 8 strikeouts.
- Won each of his previous five starts, allowing only 9 earned runs across 29 1/3 innings in August (2.76 ERA).
Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.73 ERA) makes his 28th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 through 156 2/3 IP.
- Last two starts were against the Cleveland Indians, each of which the Red Sox won but he took a no-decision. He allowed 5 runs across 11 2/3 innings in those two games combined, striking out 16 batters.
- He’s 2-1 against the Rays this season and has allowed 7 earned runs over 19 1/3 innings spanning three starts.
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 8:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Red Sox -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays -1.5 (+140) | Red Sox +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under: 9.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Prediction
Rays 5, Red Sox 3
Money line (ML)
The Rays tagged the Red Sox for more than 10 runs again Tuesday night, winning 12-7 after an 11-10 victory the night prior. Boston’s pitching has struggled of late with 34 runs allowed across its last three games.
The Red Sox will try to snap their three-game losing skid Wednesday but I don’t see that happening. Bet the RAYS (-112).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Rays covered the spread for the seventh time in their last 10 games Tuesday while winning by 5 runs. Boston dropped to 3-7 ATS across its last 10 outings and has failed to keep up with its opponents lately.
Eovaldi being on the mound helps, but McClanahan has pitched well in recent outings, too. I like the rookie to limit Boston and help the RAYS -1.5 (+140) win by 2 or more runs.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total went Over in the first two games of the series, with the teams combining for 19 runs Tuesday and 21 Monday.
After all that offense, they will revert to the mean and play a lower-scoring game Wednesday – especially with a matchup between Eovaldi and McClanahan.
Bet the UNDER 9.5 (-108).
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