Free MLB Pick: Red Sox vs. Rays Odds
Looking for Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Red Sox taking on the Rays on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this Red Sox Rays free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(75-56) Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays (82-48)
Date: Tuesday, August 31st, 2021
Time: 7:10 PM ET
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Projected Pitchers: Chris Sale (BOS) vs. Drew Rasmussen (TB)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Red Sox -150 | Rays +140
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Red Sox -1.5 , Rays +1.5
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 8
The Boston Red Sox travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays in a 4-game American League East matchup. The Rays are in the hunt for the best record in baseball, trailing the Giants just slightly for that honor. As for the Red Sox, they sit just two spots up on Oakland for the final American League wild-card spot and two back of the Yankees for home-field advantage in the wild card playoff.
The Sox will send Chris Sale to the mound for this one and the Rays will counter with Drew Rasmussen.
Boston Red Sox
The recent surge of the New York Yankees saw the Boston Red Sox on the outside looking in the playoff picture earlier this month. They’ve now climbed ahead of Oakland for that final wild-card position, however. Baseball fans everywhere can now start salivating at the very real possibility of a New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox wild card playoff game this postseason. To get there, however, the Red Sox are going to have to remain above Oakland.
Boston’s playoff chances were given a boost by Oakland going 2-10 from August 15th to August 27th. The Red Sox have only managed a 12-15 record in August, however, which has cost them a chance to create some distance between them and Oakland.
This will be Sale’s 4th start this year after returning from the DL. He had Tommy John surgery in March of 2020, which in hindsight, was a pretty good time to have Tommy John surgery. So far, Sale is perfect in 2021. He’s pitched 3 times, has 3 wins, a WHIP just over 1, and 21 strikeouts. He hasn’t missed a beat and Boston’s postseason ambitions are looking stronger with him back in the rotation.
Tampa Bay Rays
With a 83-48 record, only the San Francisco Giants have a better record than the Tampa Bay Rays. They have won 12 of their last 13 games dating back to August 15th. At this point for the Rays, however, the regular season means little. It’s back to the World Series or bust for this franchise.
The Rays managed to do something last postseason that had previously been impossible; they won 3 straight series but didn’t win the World Series. They defeated the Blue Jays in a 3-game series, needed all 5 games to beat the Yankees the next series, and then defeated the Astros in 7 to win the American League. To do all that and lose to the Dodgers in the World Series will leave a taste in one’s mouth that even having the best record in baseball can’t wash out.
The Rays will send Drew Rasmussen to the hill for this one. The Rays have won 5 straight with him on the hill.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Red Sox are 3-0 with Chris Sale starting this year.
- Rays have won the last 5 games pitched by Drew Rasmussen.
- Red Sox are 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
- Rays have won their last 8 games.
- Rays have won 12 out of their last 13 games.
Free Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Prediction:
The best team in the American League is an underdog in their home park. That’s how good Chris Sale has looked as of late. He’s 3 for 3 since returning and betting against him is a risk I’m not willing to take right now. Rasmussen hasn’t exactly been giving up a lot of runs lately either, so I’ll take the under on the total as well.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Rays ML
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