Free MLB Pick: Rays vs. Red Sox Odds
Looking for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Rays taking on the Red Sox on Monday, September 6th, 2021 at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Rays Red Sox free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(86-51) Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox (76-60)
Date: Monday, September 6th, 2021
Time: 1:10 PM ET
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA.
Projected Pitchers: Yarbrough (TBR), Sale (BOS)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Rays +155 | Red Sox -180
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Rays -130, Red Sox +110
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 8.5 (Over -120)
Tampa Bay Rays
Ryan Yarbrough has not had the smoothest of times pitching against the Boston Red Sox.
He gave up six runs in five innings in a start in April, five runs in two innings in June, and five runs in five innings in July before finally a quality start on the final day of August.
That start less than a week ago could be something to build on. Not only did he manage to hold Boston to two runs in six innings by not walking a batter, he did it against close to the Red Sox’ full roster.
Enrique Hernandez missed that game but the team Yarbrough will face Monday afternoon will be a shell of that one. Hernandez remains out with covid; joining him are Xander Bogaerts, Christian Arroyo, and a cohort of Boston relief pitchers.
Meanwhile, the Rays keep rolling right along. They missed a chance to sweep the Twins on Sunday but maintained their sizable lead in the division because both New York and Boston lost too.
Tampa won’t be able to eliminate Boston from AL East contention with a sweep at Fenway but it will be close. The Rays would have to collapse here in September to simply not have the AL’s best record.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have been in a Covid outbreak for a week now and it doesn’t appear to be over yet.
Nick Pivetta was the latest victim, as announced Sunday. He went just 1–3 in August, including a loss in his last start against the Rays. He will no longer be available for this series, in which he was slated to start a game.
By itself, that would’t be an issue but Boston has no less than five position players and five other pitchers out with the virus. Each new body to hit the list has a compounding effect on those who are healthy and carrying the burden.
And those healthy Red Sox have carried the burden nicely thus far. It looked like it would be a disaster after losing the first two to Tampa Bay last week but Boston rallied to earn a split.
Then the Red Sox won the first two against Cleveland this weekend before a worn-out bullpen was exposed late in a close game three on Sunday.
The Rays, Yankees, and A’s (who entered Sunday the closest team to knocking Boston out of the playoffs) all lost so Boston didn’t lose much ground but actually missed a chance to leapfrog the Yankees and maintain its momentum.
Hernandez should be the first to return from the Covid list, possibly as early as Tuesday. Without reinforcements yet, however, Boston is vulnerable in a tight AL Wildcard race.
Chris Sale has been excellent in four starts since his return, including six innings of two-run baseball against the Rays last week.
He only struck out three to two walks in that one, though. Considering he also gave up six hits, he ought to consider himself fortunate to have escaped that outing with only two runs on the board.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Rays are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Rays are 15-5 in their last 20 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rays are 62-26 in their last 88 vs. American League East.
- Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Head to Head: Rays are 15-5 in the last 20 meetings in Boston.
Free Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox MLB Prediction: Tampa Bay wins.
The early price numbers for this one are shocking.
Sale has been good but it’s only been four starts and he labored against this same lineup just a week ago.
The Rays do have a tough travel schedule ahead of this one but they are the healthier side and love beating the Red Sox in Boston (see Betting Trends section).
If there’s a big favorite in this game, it ought to be the visitors.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay on the moneyline for plus-money. I would take them in any adjusted runline where they are available as favorites too.
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