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Rays vs. Red Sox Betting

Betting preview for the weekend MLB series between the Tampa Bay Rays & the Boston Red Sox, a good showing in the Rays vs Red Sox line this weekend could take Tampa a long way…

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MLB Weekend Series – Rays vs Red Sox odds 

Did any MLB odds followers really think teams like the Rays and Red Sox would stay down all season? The Blue Jays continue to baffle MLB Sportsbook oddsmakers but baseball betting is starting to correct itself for the most part. The Red Sox are back contending for the AL East crown and the Rays odds are coming around. A good showing in the Rays vs Red Sox line this weekend could take Tampa a long way.

Friday, May 8, 7:10 p.m. ET: James Shields (3-2, 3.51) vs Brad Penny (2-1, 7.61) 

The Rays, who have quietly boosted their sportsbook odds by winning five of seven, hope to keep building momentum Friday in the first of three games at Fenway Park. James Shields has been his usual solid yet unspectacular self this season, though his uncharacteristically high walk total is a slight red flag for baseball betting.

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The Rays odds have the clear advantage on paper, especially given that Penny hasn’t been great against Tampa in his career (save for his last start against them), but I like the Red Sox to pull off the minor upset here. Shields’ control is spotty right now and he’s not missing bats like he usually does (5.05 K/9 compared to his career mark of 7.12), suggesting he’s been lucky. A tough lineup like Boston’s will give him a wakeup call.

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MLB odds pick: Red Sox

Saturday, May 9, 3:40 p.m. ET: Scott Kazmir (3-3, 6.00) vs Jon Lester (2-2, 5.11) 

Few sportsbook matchups are tougher to predict than this one in the Rays vs Red Sox odds. Boston will be the favorite here starting Lester at Fenway, where he’s 17-3 lifetime. But he was rocked by the Rays on April 8 and Kazmir shut down the BoSox in that same game. It’s a difficult choice, but let’s play the numbers here. The Rays have Lester’s number of late – particularly MLB home-run leader Carlos Pena. A marquee matchup could also be what Kazmir needs to get back on track. If he doesn’t, it will be time to avoid him at the sportsbook for a while.

MLB odds pick: Rays

Sunday, May 10, 8:05 p.m. ET: Matt Garza (3-2, 3.51 vs Josh Beckett (3-2, 6.75) 

Ah, the baseball betting gods smile on us and save the best for last in this series. Budding ace Matt Garza faces established ace Josh Beckett in the Sunday-night series finale. Think the Rays won the Delmon Young trade? Sheesh. Garza, the key piece returned in that deal, has been sensational this season. Look at the potent lineups he’s faced and excelled against – the Red Sox (twice), Yankees, White Sox and Orioles. Obviously, his dominance of the Red Sox odds is most noteworthy – one earned run and 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings, to be exact. Also, no Boston hitter has been hugely successful against him in his career.

That brings up an important point about Josh Beckett, though. He’s been solid against the Rays, racking up 93 K’s in 78 innings, and owns Pena so badly that the Rays should consider sitting him Sunday.

The baseball betting lines favor the Rays but you can only keep pitchers like Beckett down so long, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and call for a sportsbook recovery. This should be a low-scoring affair.

MLB odds pick: Red Sox

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Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"