The Boston Red Sox (5-4) open a 4-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays (9-0) Monday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023. Rays won the season series 12-7 in 2022.
The Red Sox posted their first series sweep of 2023 by taking all 3 games at Comerica Field against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Boston outscored Detroit 24-9 in the 3-game sweep, bouncing back after being swept at home by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-game series last Monday-Wednesday.
The Rays rolled past the Oakland Athletics 11-0 on Sunday, allowing just a single hit in the series finale. Tampa Bay also won 11-0 Saturday and has outscored its opponents 75-18 while becoming the first team since the 2003 Kansas City Royals to start the season 9-0.
Red Sox at Rays projected starters
RHP Nick Pivetta vs. LHP Jalen Beeks
Pivetta (0-1, 1.80 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He allowed 3 R (1 ER) on 3 H and 3 BB with 6 K across 5 IP in a loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday.
- Last season on the road: 5-6, 4.32 ERA (89 2/3 IP, 43 ER), 1.26 WHIP, 88 K, .230 opponent batting average (OBA) in 16 starts
- Last season in night games: 6-7, 4.51 ERA (117 2/3 IP, 59 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 106 K, .245 OBA in 21 with a CG
Beeks (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will serve as the opener for the first time this season, with LHP Josh Fleming expected to work a bulk of the innings after.
- Beeks has made 2 relief appearances, allowing 1 ER on 3 H and 1 BB with 2 K across 3 IP
- Fleming has allowed 5 ER on 10 H and 1 BB with 2 K across 3 IP in a no-decision on the road against the Washington Nationals Tuesday in his season debut
Red Sox at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:54 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Rays -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox +1.5 (-145) | Rays -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 6, Rays 5
Moneyline
The RED SOX (+135) are worth a roll of the dice against the red-hot Rays.
Tampa Bay has been blistering out of the gate, but a combination of Beeks and Fleming is going to be good news for the visitors. Fleming especially struggled in his first appearance, and Boston should be able to get the bats going against the southpaw when he enters the game. The Red Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 games against left-handed starting pitchers.
Run line/Against the spread
The RED SOX +1.5 (-145) are pretty cheap if you want a little insurance and just can’t bring yourself to bet the moneyline against the unbeaten Rays.
Boston is 5-1 in the past 6 games inside the division and should make this a difficult battle for the Rays, as they finally take their first L of the season.
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Over/Under
OVER 8.5 (-115) is the best play in this AL East series opener.
The Red Sox have cashed the Over in 6 of 9 games overall this season while going 5-1 in the past 6 games on the road dating to last season. The Over is also 6-1 in Boston’s past 7 series openers dating to 2022.
The Rays have hit the Over at a 5-0-1 clip in the past 6 games overall, while going 4-0-1 in the past 5 vs. RHP and 4-1 in the past 5 contests at home.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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